PsychologyLSD works against depression through relaxation, according to Swiss study
SDA
29.1.2025 - 10:16
LSD is not only taken at parties in Switzerland, but is also used in therapies for depression. (archive picture)
Keystone
The feeling of relaxation is crucial in the treatment of depression with the drugs LSD and psilocybin. The trip itself plays a lesser role, the University of Freiburg announced on Wednesday.
Keystone-SDA
29.01.2025, 10:16
SDA
Since 2014, a special medical program in Switzerland has enabled the use of LSD and psilocybin for treatment-resistant mental illnesses. For a study published in the "Journal of Psychopharmacology", researchers at the University of Fribourg (Unifr) have now investigated how these therapies work.
The study shows that such psychedelic-assisted therapy can lead to a rapid and significant reduction in depression symptoms. However, according to the study, mystical experiences after taking the drugs had no direct influence on the success of the therapy; instead, a feeling of relaxation was the decisive factor for success.
"Encouraging results"
The therapy was also well tolerated by the patients. They only reported mild, temporary side effects such as headaches or tiredness.
According to the University of Freiburg, these results are encouraging. For the study, the researchers analyzed the experiences of 28 patients with severe depression who were treated with drugs as part of the medical program. They compared the experiences of these study participants with those of a control group of 28 study participants.
The results of the study also provide valuable information on how psychedelic therapies can be optimized. In particular, the promotion of targeted relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises or meditation, could become a central component of future treatment protocols, according to Unifr.