Where generalized anxiety disorder treatment is heading
Generalized anxiety disorder · Updated Nov 12, 2026
Treatment has barely changed in twenty years: antidepressants, buspirone and talk therapy. In 2026 a single supervised dose of pharmaceutical LSD beat placebo in two large trials, and several new daily pills are in testing.
- 157studies open or running
- 13of them in phase 3
- 1,473papers published this year
- 66NIH-funded projects
-
Now
Nov 2026
One dose of LSD beat placebo twiceHappened 11.6 vs 6.2 points of anxiety relief
Two phase 3 trials of DT120 reported in 2026. The effect lasted the full 12 weeks measured.
11.6 vs 6.2: points of improvement on a 56-point anxiety scale, DT120 vs placebo.
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6 months
by May 2027
Approval application for DT120Possible 11.6 vs 6.2 points of anxiety relief
The company has said it will file with the FDA now that both trials are positive.
11.6 vs 6.2: points of improvement on a 56-point anxiety scale, DT120 vs placebo.
ABBV-932 mid-stage resultPossible
A daily pill tested in 315 people; the trial reaches its completion date in November 2026.
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12 months
by Nov 2027
ITI-1284 add-on resultPossible
A dissolving tablet added to current treatment, in 705 people, finishes in March 2027.
CBD added to talk therapyPossible
An NIH-funded trial tests whether low-dose cannabidiol makes cognitive behavioral therapy work better.
A second psychedelic reportsLong shot
RE104, a shorter-acting compound given by injection, in 160 people.
-
3 years
by late 2029
First psychedelic approved for anxietyPossible 11.6 vs 6.2 points of anxiety relief
If the FDA accepts the two trials, DT120 would be the first new kind of anxiety treatment in decades.
11.6 vs 6.2: points of improvement on a 56-point anxiety scale, DT120 vs placebo.
Ulotaront phase 3 resultsLikely
A daily pill with a new mechanism, in two trials with 960 people finishing in late 2028.
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5 years
by late 2031
ITI-1284 phase 3 resultPossible
A 705-person add-on trial finishes in 2030.
Supervised dosing in ordinary clinicsLong shot 11.6 vs 6.2 points of anxiety relief
Single-dose psychedelic treatment becomes available outside specialist centers.
11.6 vs 6.2: points of improvement on a 56-point anxiety scale, DT120 vs placebo.
The research paths
Psychedelics, given once
11.6 vs 6.2 points of anxiety reliefDetails and 3 trialsHide
A single supervised dose, with effects lasting months. DT120 has two positive phase 3 trials.
WatchHow regulators handle the fact that people can tell what they received.
New daily pills
Details and 5 trialsHide
Pills that work differently from antidepressants, tested alone or added to current treatment.
WatchUlotaront, the furthest along.
- ABBV-932AbbVie · 315 people · enrolling Nov 2026
- ITI-1284 add-on, phase 2Intra-Cellular · 705 people · enrolling Mar 2027
- UlotarontOtsuka · 384 people · enrolling Oct 2028
- Ulotaront, second trialOtsuka · 576 people · enrolling Dec 2028
- ITI-1284 add-on, phase 3Intra-Cellular · 705 people · enrolling Sep 2030
Making therapy work better
Details and 2 trialsHide
Adding a drug or an app to talk therapy to improve how many people respond.
WatchThe CBD trial, which is randomized and NIH-funded.
Borrowed from other conditions
From Psychedelic research
LSD (DT120)
11.6 vs 6.2 points of anxiety relief
Phase 3 done
A pharmaceutical, fixed-dose form given once under supervision.
From Epilepsy treatment
Cannabidiol
Phase 3
CBD is an approved epilepsy medicine. Here a low dose is added to behavioral therapy.
From Schizophrenia research
Ulotaront
Phase 3
Developed for schizophrenia, where it did not beat placebo, and now tested in anxiety.
Open to join now
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Anxiety not controlled on medication
ITI-1284 added to current treatment
Locations and eligibility → -
Generalized anxiety disorder
ABBV-932 pill
Locations and eligibility → -
Generalized anxiety disorder
ITI-1284 on its own
Locations and eligibility → -
Generalized anxiety disorder
RE104 injection
Locations and eligibility → -
Generalized anxiety disorder
Ulotaront pill
Locations and eligibility → -
Generalized anxiety disorder
Ulotaront pill, second trial
Locations and eligibility →
See every recruiting anxiety trial →
When the trials finish
Completion dates the trials registered. Results usually follow 3 to 12 months later.
- Heating up
- Maturing
- Early
- Cooling
- Fully enrolled, waiting on results
- Still enrolling
Knowledge on the way
Not treatments yet: detection, causes and how care is delivered. Mostly NIH-funded.
- AreaQuestionFunded throughNews likely
- Care Does CBD make behavioral therapy work better?Wayne State University · NIH Funded through May 2027 News likely 2027–2028
- Causes What makes anxiety take hold and persistUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH Funded through Apr 2028 News likely 2027–2028
What just happened
Second DT120 trial positive
Panorama: 5.1 points better than placebo.
First DT120 phase 3 trial positive
Voyage: 11.6 vs 6.2 points of improvement at 12 weeks.
Standard treatment today
- First choiceCognitive behavioral therapy, an SSRI or SNRI antidepressant, or both.
- Other optionsBuspirone, pregabalin in some countries, and hydroxyzine. Benzodiazepines are for short-term use only.
- When those failSwitching or combining medicines. No treatment is approved specifically for anxiety that has not responded.
How to read this page, and sourcesHow to read this page, and sources
- In psychedelic trials most people can tell whether they got the drug, which can inflate the measured benefit.
- The DT120 figures are top-line company results, not yet published in full.
- Completion dates are what each trial registered. Results usually follow 3 to 12 months later.
- Forecasts are editorial judgments by Find a Trial, not predictions from sponsors or regulators.
See anxiety trials recruiting now →