Salivary Oxytocin as a Biomarker in Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy
European Psychiatry April 1, 2025 L. Cazorla, S. Alaux, C. Mabilais et al.
In a pilot study of LSD-assisted psychotherapy for patients with resistant anxiety or depression, six of ten planned participants completed the protocol. Salivary oxytocin was measured before and after LSD intake; those analyses are pending. Self-perceived intensity of drug effects peaked at 180 minutes and showed a significant relationship with the intensity of mystical experience reported on the MEQ-30. Depression and anxiety symptom scores will be analyzed after treatment. The authors conclude that preliminary data show a clear effect of perceived treatment intensity and its link to mystical experience, and that including oxytocin data will be valuable.