Microdosing psychedelics: personality, mental health, and creativity differences in microdosers
Psychopharmacology January 2, 2019 Thomas Anderson, Rotem Petranker, Daniel Rosenbaum et al. 171 citations
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Rotem Petranker
Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
16 papers in the library · 516 citations · publishing 2018-2026
Papers
Psychedelic microdosing benefits and challenges: an empirical codebook
Harm Reduction Journal July 9, 2019 Thomas Anderson, Rotem Petranker, Adam Christopher et al. 130 citations
A mixed-methods study of an active microdosing community categorizes the experiences participants report, identifying high-potential avenues for future scientific research. The resulting taxonomy distills intervention targets from participant reports to help allocate research funding efficiently. Microdosing research complements full-dose psychedelic studies as clinical treatments and neuropharmacological mechanisms are developed. The framework aims to guide researchers and clinicians as experimental microdosing research begins in earnest.
Microdosing psychedelics: Demographics, practices, and psychiatric comorbidities
Journal of Psychopharmacology February 28, 2020 Daniel Rosenbaum, Cory R. Weissman, Thomas Anderson et al. 75 citations
People who microdose psychedelics—taking small, non-hallucinogenic amounts of LSD or psilocybin—are less likely to report a history of substance use disorders or anxiety disorders than non-microdosers, but more likely to report recent recreational substance use. Among 909 participants recruited from Reddit, most microdosers used LSD (59.3%) or psilocybin (25.9%) on a one-day-on, two-days-off schedule. The findings suggest that microdosers differ from non-microdosers in psychiatric and substance-use profiles, and well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to evaluate safety and potential benefits in clinical populations.
Microdosing psychedelics: Subjective benefits and challenges, substance testing behavior, and the relevance of intention
Journal of Psychopharmacology October 8, 2020 Rotem Petranker, Thomas Anderson, Larissa J. Maier et al. 57 citations
In a large online survey of 6,753 people who had microdosed psychedelics in the past year, most reported enhanced mood, creativity, focus, and sociability, and the most common challenge was 'None'. Contrary to expectations, having an approach-intention—microdosing to achieve a specific goal—predicted fewer rather than more benefits. Most participants did not test their substances. The perceived benefits greatly outweighed the challenges, but double-blind, placebo-controlled experiments are needed to confirm these self-reported effects.
Set and setting in microdosing: an oft-overlooked principle.
Psychopharmacology December 1, 2022 Ido Hartogsohn, Rotem Petranker 22 citations
The use of psychedelics for medical and recreational purposes is rising, and contextual factors such as expectancy, intention, and sensory and social environment (set and setting) are widely recognized as moderating the effects of these substances. However, clinical trials of microdosing—ingesting small, sub-hallucinogenic doses of psychedelics—rarely report their set and setting, suggesting these factors are not considered important in that context. This paper challenges that assumption and argues for the crucial relevance of set and setting in microdosing practice. Building on set and setting theory and placebo theory, it explains why set and setting are crucial for determining microdosing outcomes and helps explain contradictory results in recent research. Reporting set and setting would make microdosing research more reliable and consistent.
Keeping the promise: a critique of the current state of microdosing research
Frontiers in Psychiatry February 5, 2024 Rotem Petranker, Thomas Anderson, Youval Aberman et al. 14 citations
Microdosing, the practice of taking small, sub-hallucinogenic doses of psychedelics, has become popular, with users reporting benefits like improved mood and creativity. A review of 15 papers published before March 2022 critically analyzed the research practices in this field. The review concludes that it is premature to draw any conclusions about the efficacy or safety of microdosing because the quality of the research is not confirmatory. The authors propose potential causes for this state of the literature and offer suggestions for improvement.
Global Drug Survey
April 12, 2020 Rotem Petranker, Thomas Anderson, Larissa J. Maier et al. 14 citations preprint
A large survey of 6,753 people who microdosed LSD or psilocybin at least once in the past year found that the most commonly reported benefits were enhanced mood, creativity, focus, and sociability, partially replicating earlier findings. Most participants reported no challenges from microdosing, and the majority did not test their substances for purity. Contrary to expectations, microdosing with the intention of approaching a desired goal predicted fewer rather than more benefits. The authors conclude that the reported benefits outweigh the challenges, but emphasize that double-blind, placebo-controlled experiments are needed to confirm these self-reported effects.
Microdosing Psychedelics: Personality, mental health, and creativity differences in microdosers
November 1, 2018 Thomas Anderson, Rotem Petranker, Daniel M. Rosenbaum et al. 11 citations preprint
People who regularly consume small amounts of psychedelics like LSD or psilocybin—a practice called microdosing—report lower levels of dysfunctional attitudes and negative emotionality, and higher levels of wisdom, open-mindedness, and creativity compared to those who do not microdose. This pre-registered study, the first to investigate microdosing and mental health, recruited participants from online forums. Although promising, the findings are preliminary and warrant controlled experimental research to test safety and clinical efficacy. Microdosing may offer clinical benefits without the hallucinogenic effects of full-dose psychedelic therapy.
Global Trends in Psychedelic Microdosing: Demographics, Substance Testing Behavior, and Patterns of Use
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs November 6, 2024 Rotem Petranker, Valentyn Sobolenko, Zeina Beidas et al. 9 citations
People who exclusively microdose psychedelics differ from those who also take larger doses. Exclusive microdosers are older (average 46.4 vs. 42.0 years), more often female (68.4% vs. 44.7%), non-Caucasian (25.4% vs. 14.7%), and urban residents (43.9% vs. 38.5%). They report using fewer non-psychedelic substances over their lifetime (3.8 vs. 4.7 substances). Most microdose multiple times a month (52.5%), commonly using psilocybin (74.5%), LSD (34.4%), or ketamine (15.8%), and 64.6% do not test their substances. The main reason for microdosing is improving general wellbeing (73.0%).
Microdosing as a response to the meaning crisis
May 26, 2020 Rotem Petranker, Juensung J. Kim, Thomas Anderson 4 citations preprint
People who microdose psychedelics like LSD or magic mushrooms do so mainly for clinical reasons and to boost productivity, but often struggle with unknown optimal dosing. Outcomes vary widely, from strong endorsement to disappointment at no effect. The analysis of 118 survey responses identified four themes: reasons, practice, outcomes, and meta-commentary, which included warnings against overexcitement. The findings suggest that even low doses may provide a sense of meaning lacking in Western culture, likely through enhanced psychological flexibility and connectedness, though placebo-controlled experiments are needed to confirm.
The effect of psychedelic microdosing on animal behavior: A review with recommendations for the field
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews May 9, 2025 Rotem Petranker, Benjamin Tsang, Omer A. Syed 3 citations
A narrative review of 12 studies on microdosing LSD, psilocybin, or DMT in rats, mice, and zebrafish found that microdosing caused little change in behaviors related to anxiety- and depressive-like states. The practice was well-tolerated across species, but specific safety concerns remain unaddressed. The authors recommend future research prioritize replication of existing findings, standardize methodologies, explore mescaline microdosing, examine sex-dependent effects, and extend studies to models of obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Preferences, Perceptions, and Environmental Considerations of Natural and Synthetic Psychedelic Substances: Findings from the Global Psychedelic Survey
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs December 24, 2024 Omer A Syed, Rotem Petranker, Emily C Fewster et al. 3 citations
A strong preference for natural over synthetic sources exists among users of psilocybin (75%), DMT (56%), and mescaline (56%), based on an anonymous online survey of 6,379 consumers from 85 countries. About half of respondents (50.8%) believe the source affects a psychedelic's psychological and physiological effects, while 34.4% are neutral. Despite preferring natural sources, 67.7% would switch to synthetic alternatives if it reduced environmental harm from overharvesting. The survey's respondents came mainly from anglophone regions.
Manifest Your Desires: Psychedelics and the Self-Help Industry
April 13, 2022 Patric Plesa, Rotem Petranker 3 citations preprint
A psychedelic industrial complex is forming as new research on these substances gains approval, yet much remains unknown about their potential for both benefit and harm. Despite a lack of reliable mechanistic evidence, entrepreneurs have begun marketing psychedelic advice. Drawing on critiques of the self-help industry, parallels are identified: overstated claims, cultural lore, for-profit organizations, and spiritual gurus characterize both industries that sell solutions for mental health disorders. Guidelines for responsible research, therapy, and policy are offered, focusing on evidence-based practices, decriminalization, and rigorous therapist training to temper these concerns.
Safety and Efficacy of Microdosing Psilocybin over 8 Weeks for Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Research Square February 23, 2026 Rotem Petranker, Norman Farb, Omer A. Syed et al.
Repeated low doses of psilocybin were safe and well tolerated in adults with major depressive disorder but did not show greater antidepressant effects than placebo. In a randomized, double-blind trial, 39 participants received either 2 mg psilocybin or placebo weekly for four weeks. Both groups reported similar reductions in depression scores on the PHQ-9 (psilocybin: -5.4; placebo: -6.0) and other measures. The microdose-first group showed slightly more improvement on a dysfunctional attitudes scale than the placebo-first group. No serious adverse events occurred, and symptom reductions continued during an open-label phase. Trial participation itself contributed to clinically meaningful improvement.
Microdosing Psilocybin for Major Depressive Disorder: Study Protocol for a Phase II Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Randomized Partial Crossover Trial
November 16, 2025 Zeina Beidas, Anya Ragnhildstveit, Adam Blackman et al. preprint
A phase II trial will test whether microdosing psilocybin (2 mg weekly) outperforms placebo for major depressive disorder. Forty adults will receive either psilocybin or placebo for four weeks, then all will receive psilocybin for another four weeks. Depression symptoms and other measures will be assessed at baseline, after four weeks, and after eight weeks, with follow-ups for two years. The study aims to clarify whether microdosing has genuine antidepressant effects or whether benefits are due to expectancy, and to inform future dose regimens and the therapeutic role of sub-threshold versus threshold doses.
Psychedelics and neonihilism: connectedness in a meaningless world
Frontiers in Psychology August 9, 2023 Patric Plesa, Rotem Petranker
The resurgence of psychedelic research aims to treat mental health conditions through psychedelics-assisted psychotherapy, with current theories emphasizing mystical experiences as key drivers of symptom improvement. These experiences enhance feelings of salience, connectedness, and meaning. The authors argue that the excitement around psychedelics partly responds to a modern meaning and alienation crisis, which correlates with rising anxiety and depression. They frame this absence of meaning as neonihilism, a contemporary version of 19th-century nihilism shaped by neoliberal culture. Exploring whether psychedelics combined with group therapy can address modern meaninglessness, they propose concrete next steps for theory and practice, introducing neonihilistic psychedelic group psychotherapy.