A systematic study of microdosing psychedelics

Summary & key facts

This paper reports two linked observational studies about microdosing psychedelics. In Study One, 98 people who microdosed gave daily ratings for six weeks; on dosing days they reported better psychological functioning, but there was little evidence that benefits carried over to non-dosing days. A subgroup of 63 people completed tests before and after the six weeks and showed small reductions in depression and stress, less distractibility, more absorption, and an unexpected rise in neuroticism. Study Two surveyed 263 people about their expectations and found most expected large, wide-ranging benefits that did not match the more limited outcomes actually reported. The authors say controlled d

Key facts:

• 98 participants provided daily ratings of their psychological functioning for six weeks in Study One.
• Daily ratings showed a general increase in reported psychological functioning on dosing days, but little evidence of lasting effects on following days.
• 63 participants completed pre- and post-study psychometric tests; these tests showed reductions in reported depression and stress, lower distractibility, increased absorption, and increased neuroticism.
• Study Two surveyed 263 people (both new and experienced microdosers) and found widespread expectations that microdosing would produce large, broad benefits.
• The positive expectations reported in Study Two did not match the more limited pattern of outcomes actually reported by the people who tracked their own microdosing in Study One.
• The authors note that this research was observational and call for dose-controlled experimental studies to measure microdosing effects more reliably.

Abstract

The phenomenon of 'microdosing', that is, regular ingestion of very small quantities of psychedelic substances, has seen a rapid explosion of popularity in recent years. Individuals who microdose report minimal acute effects from these substances yet claim a range of long-term general health and wellbeing benefits. There have been no published empirical studies of microdosing and the current legal and bureaucratic climate makes direct empirical investigation of the effects of psychedelics difficult. In Study One we conducted a systematic, observational investigation of individuals who microdose. We tracked the experiences of 98 microdosing participants, who provided daily ratings of psychological functioning over a six week period. 63 of these additionally completed a battery of psychometric measures tapping mood, attention, wellbeing, mystical experiences, personality, creativity, and sense of agency, at baseline and at completion of the study. Analyses of daily ratings revealed a general increase in reported psychological functioning across all measures on dosing days but limited evidence of residual effects on following days. Analyses of pre and post study measures revealed reductions in reported levels of depression and stress; lower levels of distractibility; increased absorption; and increased neuroticism. To better understand these findings, in Study Two we investigated pre-existing beliefs and expectations about the effects of microdosing in a sample of 263 nave and experienced microdosers, so as to gauge expectancy bias. All participants believed that microdosing would have large and wide-ranging benefits in contrast to the limited outcomes reported by actual microdosers. Notably, the effects believed most likely to change were unrelated to the observed pattern of reported outcomes. The current results suggest that dose controlled empirical research on the impacts of microdosing on mental health and attentional capabilities are needed.

Topics

Chemical synthesis and alkaloids Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior Psychedelics and Drug Studies

Categories

Clinical Psychology Psychology Social Sciences

Tags

Anxiety Clinical psychology Expectancy theory Medicine Mood Neuroticism Observational study Pathology Personality Psychiatry Psychology Social psychology

Substances

Other

Conditions & symptoms

Anxiety Difficulty focusing Sadness or low mood