Between enhancement and risk: A critical review of psychedelic microdosing
Iva Totomanova, Eline Haijen, Petra P M Hurks, Johannes G. Ramaekers, Kim P. C. Kuypers
Current Opinion in Psychology August 6, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2025.102129 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Placebo-controlled Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 57 |
| Population | Clinical and non-clinical populations |
| Topics | Microdosing |
| Citations | 5 |
| Key findings | Microdosing psychedelics shows potential benefits in mood, cognition, and mental health, but findings are inconsistent and often null in experimental trials, highlighting the need for rigorous placebo-controlled research. |
Abstract
Microdosing psychedelics, the regular use of low doses of LSD or psilocybin, have attracted growing public and scientific interest. This review synthesizes findings from 57 human studies on psychological and physiological outcomes in clinical and non-clinical populations. Reported benefits include improved mood, enhanced cognition, social functioning, and mental health, although findings are inconsistent and largely self-reported. Adverse effects such as anxiety, physical discomfort, and cognitive disruption are also frequently reported. Outcomes appear to be highly individual and shaped by user expectations, context, and baseline state. Notably, many experimental studies focus on the acute effects of single low doses, whereas observational studies reflect repeated use and generally report more benefits, while experimental trials tend to yield more null findings. Differences between observational and experimental findings highlight the need for rigorous, placebo-controlled research. While microdosing shows potential in some studies, current evidence remains inconclusive and warrants caution.
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 6
- Classical psychedelic microdosing, mood, and cognitive function: An umbrella review with narrative synthesis Journal of Psychopharmacology June 28, 2026
- Effects of repeated low-dose LSD on neuropsychological functioning in adults with ADHD: a randomized placebo-controlled study Psychopharmacology June 20, 2026
- Psychedelic Use, Microdosing, Motives, and Information and Product Sources Among Young Adults in the United States Journal of Psychoactive Drugs June 19, 2026
- Psilocybin and Mental Health Outcomes: Scoping Review with ☸SAIMSARA SAIMSARA Journal June 15, 2026
- Molecules, meaning, and physiology: disentangling the active ingredients of psychedelic therapeutics Frontiers in Neuroscience August 3, 2026
and 1 more in the library
Cites 62
- 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
- Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Psilocybin in 9 Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry November 15, 2006
- Safety and Efficacy of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide-Assisted Psychotherapy for Anxiety Associated With Life-threatening Diseases The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease March 4, 2014
- Psilocybin-occasioned mystical-type experience in combination with meditation and other spiritual practices produces enduring positive changes in psychological functioning and in trait measures of prosocial attitudes and behaviors Journal of Psychopharmacology October 11, 2017
- Acute dose-dependent effects of lysergic acid diethylamide in a double-blind placebo-controlled study in healthy subjects Neuropsychopharmacology October 15, 2020
and 57 more in the library