Adults who microdose psychedelics report health related motivations and lower levels of anxiety and depression compared to non-microdosers

Summary & key facts

Researchers collected survey answers through a mobile app from about 4,000 adults who said they microdose psychedelics and about 4,700 adults who did not. They asked what people used, why they did it, and about their mental health. About 85% of microdosers said they used psilocybin. People who microdosed were more likely to report a history of mental health problems, yet among those with such problems the microdosers reported lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Most microdosers said health and wellness were their main reasons for microdosing. The study used people who chose to join an app, so it cannot show that microdosing caused any benefits. The authors say we need careful long-term studies to know more.

Key facts:

• The study gathered answers from about 4,000 adults who microdose and about 4,700 adults who do not, using a mobile app. The people who joined the study chose to do so, rather than being picked at random.
• Roughly 85% of people who reported microdosing said they used psilocybin as their microdose substance. The survey also found a wide variety in dose amounts and how often people microdosed.
• Some people mix psilocybin with non-psychedelic items, a practice called "stacking." Common stacking items reported were Lion's Mane mushrooms, chocolate, and niacin.
• People who microdosed were more likely to say they had a history of mental health concerns than people who did not microdose.
• Among people who said they had mental health concerns, those who microdosed reported lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress compared to non-microdosers. This was true for men and women in the survey.
• Health and wellness was the most common motive for microdosing. This motive was especially common among women and among people who already reported mental health concerns.
• Because the data came from self-reports on an app and people chose to join, the study cannot prove that microdosing caused any mental health improvements. The researchers call for more careful, long-term studies to test effects over time.

Abstract

The use of psychedelic substances at sub-sensorium 'microdoses', has gained popular academic interest for reported positive effects on wellness and cognition. The present study describes microdosing practices, motivations and mental health among a sample of self-selected microdosers (n = 4050) and non-microdosers (n = 4653) via a mobile application. Psilocybin was the most commonly used microdose substances in our sample (85%) and we identified diverse microdose practices with regard to dosage, frequency, and the practice of stacking which involves combining psilocybin with non-psychedelic substances such as Lion's Mane mushrooms, chocolate, and niacin. Microdosers were generally similar to non-microdosing controls with regard to demographics, but were more likely to report a history of mental health concerns. Among individuals reporting mental health concerns, microdosers exhibited lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress across gender. Health and wellness-related motives were the most prominent motives across microdosers in general, and were more prominent among females and among individuals who reported mental health concerns. Our results indicate health and wellness motives and perceived mental health benefits among microdosers, and highlight the need for further research into the mental health consequences of microdosing including studies with rigorous longitudinal designs.

Topics

Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques Chemical synthesis and alkaloids Psychedelics and Drug Studies

Categories

Clinical Psychology Psychology Social Sciences

Tags

Anxiety Clinical psychology Depression (economics) Economics Hallucinogen Macroeconomics Medicine Mental health MicroDose Pharmacology Psilocybin Psychiatry Psychology

Substances

Psilocybin

Conditions & symptoms

Anxiety Anxiety or worry Sadness or low mood