At South Chesapeake Psychiatry, we’ve been closely following the wave of new treatments reshaping psychiatry. Over the past year, we’ve talked about emerging agents like GM-2505, COMPASS Pathways’ COMP360 psilocybin, and MAPS’ MDMA program—all focused primarily on depression. We’ve also highlighted how newer FDA-approved options such as Auvelity and Spravato are already changing practice today. Each represents another tool in the psychiatric toolbox, helping us move beyond the limits of traditional medications.
Now, for the first time in decades, a psychedelic is being seriously studied for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) rather than depression. A newly published phase 2b clinical trial in JAMA evaluated lysergide (MM120)—better known as LSD—for anxiety. This represents a pivotal step toward expanding psychedelic research into conditions beyond mood disorders.
• Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial at 22 U.S. research sites.
• Participants: 198 adults, ages 18–74, all with moderate to severe GAD (HAM-A ≥20).
• Intervention: A single oral dose of MM120 at 25 µg, 50 µg, 100 µg, 200 µg, or placebo.
• Outcome: Change in Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) score at 4 weeks.
• 100 µg and 200 µg doses produced significant reductions in anxiety compared with placebo.
o 100 µg: −5.0 point HAM-A difference.
o 200 µg: −6.0 point HAM-A difference.
• Lower doses (25 µg and 50 µg) did not separate from placebo.
• Adverse events were consistent with psychedelic effects: perceptual changes, nausea, and headaches—generally transient and manageable.
Taken together, these findings suggest 100 µg may be the optimal dose moving forward
Most psychedelic research so far has targeted depression, where we’ve already seen breakthroughs like Auvelity and Spravato reach practice. This study is different—it shows that psychedelics may also have a role in treating anxiety disorders, where options remain limited.
The concept of a single-session intervention is especially striking compared to the daily burden of traditional medications. And it comes at a time when CBN-004 is preparing to enter trials for anxiety as well, suggesting that we may soon have multiple psychedelic pathways to explore in this space.
Each new treatment—whether it’s Spravato for treatment-resistant depression, Auvelity for rapid-acting oral therapy, or psychedelic compounds like MM120 and CBN-004—adds another tool in our clinical toolbox. The goal isn’t to replace existing options but to expand the range of interventions so we can better match treatment to the individual client.
This diversity is especially important in psychiatry, where no single approach works for everyone. By building out a wider spectrum of therapies, we give clients the best chance at recovery while respecting the complexity of mental health conditions.
For decades, psychedelics like LSD were sidelined. Now they’re re-emerging not as counterculture artifacts, but as rigorously studied treatments that may reshape how we treat anxiety and depression alike.
South Chesapeake Psychiatry will continue to follow MM120, CBN-004, and other innovative treatments closely—along with Auvelity, Spravato, and future advances—to ensure our clients remain at the forefront of safe, effective, and science-based psychiatric care.
Barrow, R., Conant, C., Robison, R., et al. (2025). Single treatment with MM120 (lysergide) in generalized anxiety disorder: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2025.13481
Popova, V., Daly, E. J., Trivedi, M., Cooper, K., Lane, R., Lim, P., ... & Drevets, W. (2019). Efficacy and safety of esketamine nasal spray plus oral antidepressant in treatment-resistant depression (SUSTAIN-1). JAMA Psychiatry, 76(9), 893–903. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.1189
Tabuteau, H., Jones, A., Anderson, A., Jacobson, M., Iosifescu, D. V., et al. (2022). Effect of AXS-05 (dextromethorphan-bupropion) in major depressive disorder: A randomized double-blind controlled trial. American Journal of Psychiatry, 179(7), 490-499. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.21080800
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