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Petra P M Hurks

Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.

3 papers in the library · 19 citations · publishing 2025

Papers

Safety and Efficacy of Repeated Low-Dose LSD for ADHD Treatment in Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

JAMA psychiatry June 1, 2025 Lorenz Mueller, Joyce Santos de Jesus, Yasmin Schmid et al. 14 citations

Repeated low doses of LSD (20 μg twice weekly for six weeks) did not reduce ADHD symptoms more than placebo in adults with moderate-to-severe ADHD. In a double-blind randomized trial with 53 participants, the LSD group showed an average 7.1-point improvement on the ADHD symptom scale, while the placebo group improved by 8.9 points—a difference that was not statistically significant. The treatment was physically safe and psychologically well tolerated. The findings suggest that microdosing LSD, despite popular interest, offers no advantage over placebo for ADHD symptom relief.

Between enhancement and risk: A critical review of psychedelic microdosing

Current Opinion in Psychology August 6, 2025 Iva Totomanova, Eline Haijen, Petra P M Hurks et al. 5 citations

Regular use of low doses of LSD or psilocybin, known as microdosing, has been studied in 57 human studies. Reported benefits include improved mood, enhanced cognition, social functioning, and mental health, but findings are inconsistent and largely based on self-reports. Adverse effects such as anxiety, physical discomfort, and cognitive disruption are also common. Outcomes vary greatly by individual and are shaped by expectations, context, and baseline state. Experimental studies of single doses often yield null findings, while observational studies of repeated use report more benefits. The evidence remains inconclusive and warrants caution.

Potential therapeutic effects of psychedelics in small doses: Is there a role for microdosing in psychiatry?

International review of neurobiology January 1, 2025 Iva Totomanova, Eline C H M Haijen, Petra P M Hurks et al.

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 reduce symptoms of depression and obsessive-compulsive behavior in patient samples. Extra-pharmacological factors such as baseline subjective state, expectations, and individual differences in drug metabolism influence treatment outcomes. Controlled microdosing studies suggest potential therapeutic applications, but large-scale clinical trials are still needed.