Managing expectations with psychedelic microdosing
npj Mental Health Research November 8, 2023 DOI: 10.1038/s44184-023-00044-9 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Microdosing psilocybin |
| Dose | roughly a tenth of full psychedelic doses |
| Topics | Microdosing |
| Keywords | Recreational use Mental health Applied psychology Psychotherapist |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key findings | Recent self-report survey studies demonstrate the overwhelming positive effects of microdosing on users' mental health. |
Abstract
The recent years have seen an unprecedented surge of psychedelic research. Studies with psilocybin (colloquially known as magic mushrooms), in particular, have shown promise in ameliorating symptoms of treatment-refractory depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder, among others 1 , 2 . Microdosing, the practice of regularly taking roughly a tenth of full psychedelic doses, is becoming increasingly popular 3 . These sub-perceptual doses cause no psychedelic effects, yet anecdotal reports suggest they carry substantial improvements to mental wellbeing. Popularized in-part by Silicon Valley developers and entrepreneurs, microdosing psilocybin and LSD is widely suggested to boost creativity, attention, sociability, while treating low mood and anxiety. Additionally, recent years have seen microdosing permeating the mainstream psychedelic scene. Several recent self-report survey studies demonstrate the overwhelming positive effects of microdosing on users’ mental health 3 , 4 .
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on microdosing, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big physics, small doses: the use of AMS and PET in human microdosing of development drugs | 2003 | Review | |
| Phase 0/microdosing approaches: time for mainstream application in drug development? | 2020 | Review | |
| Microdosing and drug development: past, present and future | 2013 | Review | |
| Microdosing and Other Phase 0 Clinical Trials: Facilitating Translation in Drug Development | 2016 | Review | |
| Expectancy Effects in Psychedelic Trials. | 2024 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- Global Trends in Psychedelic Microdosing: Demographics, Substance Testing Behavior, and Patterns of Use Journal of Psychoactive Drugs November 6, 2024
- Qualitative content analysis of expectations in participants with depression about to begin LSD microdosing treatment: Identifying the need for psychedelic expectancy measures. Neuropharmacology December 1, 2025
- The effect of psychedelic microdosing on animal behavior: A review with recommendations for the field Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews May 9, 2025
- Adverse events associated with classic psychedelics and MDMA: a real-world population-based study using the WHO pharmacovigilance database (VigiBase) Psychiatry Research December 29, 2025
- Real-World Therapeutic Use of Ketamine in Clinical and Non-Clinical Settings: A Cross-Sectional Survey Journal of Psychoactive Drugs September 23, 2026
Cites 13
- Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression. New England Journal of Medicine November 3, 2022
- Percentage of Heavy Drinking Days Following Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy vs Placebo in the Treatment of Adult Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder JAMA Psychiatry August 24, 2022
- The experimental effects of psilocybin on symptoms of anxiety and depression: A meta-analysis Psychiatry Research January 2, 2020
- Exploring the effect of microdosing psychedelics on creativity in an open-label natural setting Psychopharmacology October 24, 2018
- Microdosing psychedelics: personality, mental health, and creativity differences in microdosers Psychopharmacology January 2, 2019
and 8 more in the library