Adults with ADHD who microdosed classic psychedelics on their own initiative reported reduced ADHD symptoms and improved well-being after two and four weeks, compared with their baseline. Performance on a time perception task did not improve. Taking conventional ADHD medication alongside microdosing or having other mental health conditions did not alter the effects on symptoms or well-being after four weeks. The authors call for placebo-controlled experiments to determine whether microdosing offers a genuine benefit beyond the placebo effect.
Psychedelic drugs like psilocybin and LSD are being tested in clinical trials for psychiatric and neurological conditions, with phase 2 studies showing particular promise for depression. At a 2023 European College of Neuropsychopharmacology meeting, experts identified key knowledge gaps that need addressing for successful medical implementation. These include understanding how these drugs work in the body (pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics), comparing different psychedelics, exploring the link between the duration of subjective effects and therapeutic outcomes, studying polypharmacology, and assessing the role of psychological support. The article also presents perspectives from the European Medicines Agency and Health Technology Assessors on what is most needed for medical adoption in Europe.