Positive expectations predict improved mental-health outcomes linked to psychedelic microdosing

Psychedelic microdosing describes the ingestion of near-threshold perceptible doses of classic psychedelic substances. Anecdotal reports and observational studies suggest that microdosing may promote positive mood and well-being, but recent placebo-controlled studies failed to find compelling eviden...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2021-01, Vol.11 (1), p.1941-11, Article 1941
Main Authors: Kaertner, L. S., Steinborn, M. B., Kettner, H., Spriggs, M. J., Roseman, L., Buchborn, T., Balaet, M., Timmermann, C., Erritzoe, D., Carhart-Harris, R. L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
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631/477/2811
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692/700/784
Anxiety
Bias
Drug dosages
Expectancy
Humanities and Social Sciences
Informed consent
Ingestion
LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide
Mental health
Mood
multidisciplinary
Observational studies
Physiology
Placebos
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Well being
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Summary:Psychedelic microdosing describes the ingestion of near-threshold perceptible doses of classic psychedelic substances. Anecdotal reports and observational studies suggest that microdosing may promote positive mood and well-being, but recent placebo-controlled studies failed to find compelling evidence for this. The present study collected web-based mental health and related data using a prospective (before, during and after) design. Individuals planning a weekly microdosing regimen completed surveys at strategic timepoints, spanning a core four-week test period. Eighty-one participants completed the primary study endpoint. Results revealed increased self-reported psychological well-being, emotional stability and reductions in state anxiety and depressive symptoms at the four-week primary endpoint, plus increases in psychological resilience, social connectedness, agreeableness, nature relatedness and aspects of psychological flexibility. However, positive expectancy scores at baseline predicted subsequent improvements in well-being, suggestive of a significant placebo response. This study highlights a role for positive expectancy in predicting positive outcomes following psychedelic microdosing and cautions against zealous inferences on its putative therapeutic value.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-021-81446-7