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.
Attitudes toward psilocybin-assisted therapies (PAT) are generally positive, but vary by demographic group. Men, Democrats, and atheists tend to hold more favorable views, though these differences may stem from sampling sources like Amazon's Mechanical Turk. People with prior knowledge of psilocybin or previous psychedelic experience also report more positive attitudes. The findings highlight which groups may be more receptive to PAT as it gains mainstream consideration.