Skip to content

Microdosing with psychedelics to self-medicate for ADHD symptoms in adults: A prospective naturalistic study.

Eline Haijen, Petra P M Hurks, Kim P. C. Kuypers

Neuroscience Applied October 26, 2022 DOI: 10.1016/j.nsa.2022.101012 (opens in new tab)

Read Full Text
Relevant Not relevant

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Prospective study Placebo-controlled Peer reviewed
Sample size 233
Population Adults with ADHD who intended to start microdosing on their own initiative
Duration 4 weeks
Topics Microdosing
Citations 17
Key points Microdosing classic psychedelics was associated with decreases in ADHD symptoms and increases in well-being, but not with improved time perception, and effects were unchanged by concurrent medication use or comorbidities.

Abstract

ADHD in adulthood is often overlooked, which negatively affects the individual's well-being. First-line pharmacological interventions are effective in many ADHD patients, relieving symptoms rapidly. However, there seems to be a proportion of individuals who discontinue, or fail to respond to these treatments. For these individuals, alternative treatment options should be explored. A retrospective survey study reported that using classic psychedelics in low, repeated doses, so called microdosing (MD), was rated as being more effective than conventional treatments for ADHD. The current prospective study aimed to measure the effect of MD on ADHD symptoms, well-being and time perception. Adults with ADHD who had the intention to start MD on their own initiative to self-treat their symptoms were measured before MD and two- and four weeks later. It was expected that ADHD symptoms would decrease, well-being would increase, and performance on a time perception task would improve after MD. It was investigated if conventional medication use alongside MD and comorbidities alongside ADHD influenced the effect of MD. Sample sizes included N=233, N=66, and N=47, respectively. The results showed decreases and increases in ADHD symptoms and well-being, respectively. No improved performance on a time perception task was found. Conventional medication use and having comorbidities did not change the effect of MD on ADHD symptomatology and well-being after four weeks of MD. Placebo-controlled experimental studies are needed to explore further whether there is a beneficial effect of MD for ADHD, beyond the placebo-effect.

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 16

and 11 more in the library

Cites 11

and 6 more in the library

Related reading

Explore topics

Microdosing