A systematic study of microdosing psychedelics
Vince Polito, Richard J. Stevenson
PLoS One February 6, 2019 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211023 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 98 |
| Population | Individuals who microdose |
| Duration | Six week period |
| Measures | daily ratings of psychological functioning; psychometric measures tapping mood, attention, wellbeing, mystical experiences, personality, creativity, and sense of agency |
| Topics | Anxiety Microdosing |
| Keywords | Mood Expectancy theory Observational study Clinical psychology Personality Neuroticism |
| Key findings | Microdosing was associated with increased psychological functioning on dosing days and reductions in depression and stress over six weeks, but also increased neuroticism, and pre-existing expectations of benefits were much larger than observed outcomes. |
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 naïve 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.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on microdosing, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microdosing psychedelics: personality, mental health, and creativity differences in microdosers Respondents recruited from online forums | 2019 | Observational study | |
| Positive expectations predict improved mental-health outcomes linked to psychedelic microdosing Individuals planning a weekly microdosing regimen | 2021 | Prospective observational study | n = 81 |
| Might Microdosing Psychedelics Be Safe and Beneficial? An Initial Exploration. More than a thousand individuals from 59 countries | 2019 | Observational cohort | n = 1,000 |
| Psilocybin microdosers demonstrate greater observed improvements in mood and mental health at one month relative to non-microdosing controls Psilocybin microdosers and non-microdosing comparators | 2022 | Naturalistic observational study | n = 1,133 |
| Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics of Oral Quinidine and Verapamil in Healthy Subjects: A Clinical Microdosing Study Healthy subjects | 2011 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cited by 183
- Default Mode Network Modulation by Psychedelics: A Systematic Review The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology October 21, 2022
- Predicting Reactions to Psychedelic Drugs: A Systematic Review of States and Traits Related to Acute Drug Effects. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science March 5, 2021
- Psychedelics in Psychiatry: Neuroplastic, Immunomodulatory, and Neurotransmitter Mechanisms Pharmacological Reviews December 16, 2020
- Self-blinding citizen science to explore psychedelic microdosing. Elife March 2, 2021
- Acute Subjective and Behavioral Effects of Microdoses of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide in Healthy Human Volunteers Biological Psychiatry June 3, 2019
and 178 more in the library
Cites 45
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- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
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- The entropic brain: a theory of conscious states informed by neuroimaging research with psychedelic drugs Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2014
and 40 more in the library