About 10% of Americans have generalized anxiety disorder, which a JAMA® study published this week describes as a “a chronic condition marked by persistent, excessive anxiety and difficulty controlling everyday worries.”
While there are several medications approved to treat the condition, about half of patients don’t “experience inadequate response to first-line treatments,” noted the study’s authors. In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, researchers studied whether a single dose of an oral pharmaceutical formulation of lysergide—or lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)—could help.
Here are the key points that psychiatrists and other physicians need to know, as outlined in the JAMA study, “Single Treatment With MM120 (Lysergide) in Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial.”
Question: Does MM120 (lysergide D-tartrate) demonstrate dose-dependent efficacy in adults with moderate to severe generalized anxiety disorder?
Findings: In this phase 2b, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of four dose levels of MM120 that included 198 adults with generalized anxiety disorder, the primary outcome of a dose-response relationship for change in Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale score at week four was statistically significant.
Meaning: These findings support the selection of 100 μg of MM120 as the optimal dose for pivotal clinical trials evaluating treatment for participants with moderate to severe generalized anxiety disorder.
A JAMA editorial published alongside the study lends perspective on the findings, asking: “Are Psychedelic Agents Ready for Prime Time as Stand-Alone Treatments?”
“This work has the potential to make significant contributions to the emerging field of psychedelic drug research. It is the first study to evaluate the dose-dependent efficacy of MM120 for anxiety, specifically examining the anxiolytic effects of four different single doses without psychotherapy,” says the editorial by a Canadian physician and psychedelic health researcher.
The editorial adds: “It has become increasingly clear that, despite numerous unanswered questions and methodological challenges, psychedelic agents are experiencing a renaissance as potential treatments for alleviating symptoms of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder and other conditions (such as existential distress in oncology patients).”
AMA members can explore an entire range of cutting-edge, peer-reviewed research and clinical information. The JAMA Network™ is a world-class resource for the whole medical community. If you are an AMA member or interested in becoming one, learn how to access these educational materials and innovative tools.
Other findings of note this week
The JAMA Network journals published three articles that are being presented this week in Chicago at the 10th International Congress on Peer Review and Biomedical Publication, of which JAMA Network is a meeting organizer.
“Transparent Reporting of Observational Studies Emulating a Target Trial—The TARGET Statement,” published in JAMA. Application of the Transparent Reporting of Observational Studies Emulating a Target Trial (TARGET) guideline recommendations aims to improve reporting transparency and peer review and help researchers, clinicians, and other readers interpret and apply the results.
“Nonregistration, Discontinuation, and Nonpublication of Randomized Trials,” published in JAMA Network Open. Findings from this systematic review indicate that nonregistration, premature discontinuation due to poor recruitment, and nonpublication of randomized clinical trial (RCT) results remained major challenges, especially for nonindustry-sponsored trials.
“Improving the Reporting on Health Equity in Observational Research (STROBE-Equity),” published in JAMA Network Open. Use of the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE)-Equity extension alongside the STROBE statement when writing up completed reports of observational studies has the potential to advance the reporting of health equity data and considerations. Improved reporting of this information may help knowledge users better identify and apply evidence relevant to populations experiencing inequities.
Review articles
Two clinical review articles published this week in JAMA Network journals will help physicians stay abreast of developments. They are:
- “Hypothyroidism: A Review,” published in JAMA.
- “Indications for and Optimal Management of Percutaneous Cholecystectomy Drainage,” published in JAMA Surgery.
What AMA members get with JAMA Network
The subscription cost of JAMA is included with your AMA membership, plus unlimited online and mobile access to all JAMA Network journals, including: JAMA, JAMA Network Open, JAMA Cardiology, JAMA Dermatology, JAMA Internal Medicine, JAMA Neurology, JAMA Oncology, JAMA Ophthalmology, JAMA Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, JAMA Pediatrics, JAMA Psychiatry, and JAMA Surgery.
The online journals include many helpful features for students, residents and fellows, including full-text PDFs, clinical challenges, archived editions, audio and video author interviews where authors give their perspectives on a study’s objectives, findings and implications.
There are several ways physicians can leverage resources from the JAMA Network to help them in their clinical practice:
- Take CME courses and earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
- Fulfill maintenance of licensure (MOL) and CME requirements on JN Learning™, the new home for all JAMA Network CME.
- Read concise summaries of clinical guidelines and recommendations in a streamlined format designed for today’s busy physicians.
- Access one-page articles that present key facts in patient-friendly terms to support you and your patients.
