Microdosing psychedelics: personality, mental health, and creativity differences in microdosers
Thomas Anderson, Rotem Petranker, Daniel Rosenbaum, Cory R. Weissman, Lê-Anh Dinh-Williams, Katrina Hui, Emma Hapke, Norman A. S. Farb
Psychopharmacology January 2, 2019 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-5106-2 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Preregistered Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Respondents recruited from online forums |
| Intervention | Microdosing psychedelics |
| Topics | Microdosing |
| Keywords | Creativity Mental health Personality Clinical psychology Psychotherapist |
| Citations | 171 |
| Key findings | Current and former microdosers scored lower on dysfunctional attitudes and negative emotionality and higher on wisdom, open-mindedness, and creativity compared to non-microdosing controls. |
Abstract
RationaleMicrodosing psychedelics-the regular consumption of small amounts of psychedelic substances such as LSD or psilocybin-is a growing trend in popular culture. Recent studies on full-dose psychedelic psychotherapy reveal promising benefits for mental well-being, especially for depression and end-of-life anxiety. While full-dose therapies include perception-distorting properties, microdosing mayprovide complementary clinical benefits using lower-risk, non-hallucinogenic doses.ObjectivesThis pre-registered study aimed to investigate whether microdosing psychedelics is related to differences in personality, mental health, and creativity.MethodsIn this observational study, respondents recruited from online forums self-reported their microdosing behaviors and completed questionnaires concerning dysfunctional attitudes, wisdom, negative emotionality, open-mindedness, and mood. Respondents also performed the Unusual Uses Task to assess their creativity.ResultsCurrent and former microdosers scored lower on measures of dysfunctional attitudes (p < 0.001, r = - 0.92) and negative emotionality (p = 0.009, r = - 0.85) and higher on wisdom (p < 0.001, r = 0.88), openmindedness(p = 0.027, r = 0.67), and creativity (p < 0.001, r = 0.15) when compared to non-microdosing controls.ConclusionsThese findings provide promising initial evidence that warrants controlled experimental research to directly test safety and clinical efficacy. As microdoses are easier to administer than full-doses, this new paradigm has the exciting potential to shape future psychedelic research.
In the evidence
This study is part of the evidence base for a synthesis in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.
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State of the evidence: Microdosing Supports
Current and former microdosers scored lower on dysfunctional attitudes and negative emotionality and higher on wisdom, open-mindedness, and creativity than non-microdosing controls.
Synthesized
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on microdosing, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Microdosing with psychedelics to self-medicate for ADHD symptoms in adults: A prospective naturalistic study. Adults with ADHD who intended to start microdosing on their own initiative | 2022 | Prospective study | n = 233 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 130
- The Subjective Effects of Psychedelics May Not Be Necessary for Their Enduring Therapeutic Effects ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science December 10, 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
- Modulation of Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor by a Single Dose of Ayahuasca: Observation From a Randomized Controlled Trial Frontiers in Psychology June 4, 2019
- Chronic, Intermittent Microdoses of the Psychedelic N , N -Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) Produce Positive Effects on Mood and Anxiety in Rodents ACS Chemical Neuroscience March 4, 2019
and 125 more in the library
Cites 18
- 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
- Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence: A proof-of-concept study Journal of Psychopharmacology January 13, 2015
- Psilocybin occasioned mystical-type experiences: immediate and persisting dose-related effects. Psychopharmacology December 1, 2011
- Pilot study of the 5-HT2AR agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction Journal of Psychopharmacology September 11, 2014
and 13 more in the library