Two major trials investigating the potential of the psychedelic drug LSD for reducing anxiety are set to conclude in 2026. Scientists are feeling positive after the drug’s success in an earlier-stage trial, which could mean the treatment will be available in the US as early as 2027.

Generalised anxiety disorder is a common condition where people feel very anxious about lots of different things. It is typically treated with antidepressants and talking therapies, but around half of people don’t respond to such treatments.

Other psychedelic drugs like psilocybin and MDMA are already used to treat particularly severe cases of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in some countries, such as Australia and Switzerland. LSD is increasingly being explored as a mental health treatment, partly because research shows it triggers profound emotional experiences in some people, and it seems to enhance the brain’s ability to rewire itself and form new thought patterns.

Image: TUMEGGY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/GETTY IMAGES

Two later-stage trials investigating LSD for treating anxiety are due to conclude in 2026, which could lead to the drug being approved for the common mental health condition.

By Carissa Wong