The Viability of Microdosing Psychedelics as a Strategy to Enhance Cognition and Well-being - An Early Review.
Joel Bornemann
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 2020 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2020.1761573 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Microdosing |
| Topics | Microdosing |
| Keywords | Cognitive enhancements Psychedelics Well-being |
| Key findings | Microdosing may improve mood, focus, and creativity, but null reports and negative effects like anxiety also occur, and methodological limitations prevent definitive conclusions. |
Abstract
Psychedelic substances are currently experiencing a renaissance in interest for both therapeutic as well as recreational applications. It has been proposed that microdosing, i.e., ingesting sub-perceptual doses of a psychedelic, could confer some of the benefits of these substances to users while minimizing the risks associated with full-dose use. This review aimed to summarize and examine the extant literature on psychedelic microdosing. Exploratory evidence published to date indicates a variety of benefits reported by microdosers including improvements in mood, focus, and creativity, with some null reports, and a minority of people reporting selective negative consequences such as increased anxiety and physiological discomfort. Methodological limitations of current evidence, however, make definitive conclusions hard to draw. Recommendations for future research are given.
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 15
- The emerging science of microdosing: A systematic review of research on low dose psychedelics (1955–2021) and recommendations for the field Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews May 21, 2022
- Psilocybin microdosing does not affect emotion-related symptoms and processing: A preregistered field and lab-based study Journal of Psychopharmacology December 17, 2021
- Psychedelic-induced mystical experiences: An interdisciplinary discussion and critique Frontiers in Psychiatry April 5, 2023
- The Safety and Efficacy of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies for Older Adults: Knowns and Unknowns. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 2023
- Microdosing Psychedelics: Current Evidence From Controlled Studies. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging May 1, 2024
and 10 more in the library
Cites 38
- 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
- Mystical experiences occasioned by the hallucinogen psilocybin lead to increases in the personality domain of openness Journal of Psychopharmacology September 28, 2011
- Mystical-type experiences occasioned by psilocybin mediate the attribution of personal meaning and spiritual significance 14 months later Journal of Psychopharmacology May 30, 2008
- 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
and 33 more in the library