Potential therapeutic effects of psychedelics in small doses: Is there a role for microdosing in psychiatry?
Iva Totomanova, Eline Haijen, Petra P M Hurks, Johannes G. Ramaekers, Kim P. C. Kuypers
International review of neurobiology 2025 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2025.03.002 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | LSD Psilocybin |
| Topics | Microdosing Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Cognition Mood Neurobiology Physiology Psychedelics Small doses Subjective state |
| Key findings | Small doses of LSD and psilocybin produce subtle acute effects on neural connectivity, brain electrophysiology, blood pressure, sleep duration, pain perception, temporal processing, and mood, and show reductions in symptoms of depression and obsessive-compulsive behavior in patient samples. |
Abstract
Clinical trials using full doses of psychedelics have provided preliminary evidence supporting their safety and efficacy in treating a variety of physical and psychological conditions. Anecdotal reports indicate that even very small amounts of these substances may provide therapeutic benefits, though robust clinical studies are still needed. This chapter reviews the current experimental studies in humans using psychedelics in small doses to better understand their therapeutic potential. Research in both neurotypical individuals (n = 18 studies) and patients (n = 3) suggests that small doses of LSD and psilocybin produce subtle, acute, effects on neural connectivity, brain electrophysiology, blood pressure, sleep duration, pain perception, temporal processing, and mood; and show reductions in symptoms of depression and obsessive-compulsive behavior in patient samples. The chapter also discusses the influence of extra-pharmacological factors, such as the baseline subjective state, expectations, and individual differences in drug metabolism, on treatment outcomes. Overall, controlled microdosing studies suggest the potential therapeutic applications of small psychedelic doses, warranting further exploration through large-scale trials in clinical populations.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on psilocybin and microdosing, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The risk of chronic psychedelic and MDMA microdosing for valvular heart disease | 2023 | Review | |
| Macrodosing to microdosing with psychedelics: Clinical, social, and cultural perspectives | 2022 | Review | |
| Is microdosing a placebo? A rapid review of low-dose LSD and psilocybin research | 2024 | Rapid review | n = 19 |
| Mushrooms, Microdosing, and Mental Illness: The Effect of Psilocybin on Neurotransmitters, Neuroinflammation, and Neuroplasticity. | 2025 | Review | |
| Less is more? A review of psilocybin microdosing | 2024 | Semi-structured review |
Citations in the library
Cites 86
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- Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression New England Journal of Medicine April 14, 2021
- Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder JAMA Psychiatry November 4, 2020
- Pilot Study of Psilocybin Treatment for Anxiety in Patients With Advanced-Stage Cancer Archives of General Psychiatry September 7, 2010
and 81 more in the library