Lysergic Acid Diethylamide Produces Anxiogenic Effects in the Rat Light/Dark Test and Elevated Plus Maze
Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research January 1, 2022 Catherine N. Conway, Lisa E. Baker 6 citations
LSD produces transient anxiogenic, not anxiolytic, effects in rats. In a light/dark test, rats given LSD entered the brightly lit compartment less often and spent less time there, in a dose-dependent manner. In an elevated plus maze, rats tested 48 hours after the last of five LSD injections entered and spent more time in closed arms than open arms, indicating anxiety; this effect was absent in rats tested 72 hours after the last injection. The authors suggest that because psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy shows positive clinical outcomes for anxiety and depression, different preclinical models may be needed to understand the therapeutic mechanisms of serotonergic hallucinogens.