Less is more? A review of psilocybin microdosing

Area of Science:

• Psychopharmacology
• Neuroscience
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Psilocybin, a compound from magic mushrooms, is explored for microdosing.
• Microdosing involves sub-hallucinogenic doses for potential benefits without perceptual distortion.
• Current psilocybin microdosing research is nascent, with significant limitations and knowledge gaps.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and identify critical research gaps in psilocybin microdosing.
• To guide future scientific investigations in this emerging field.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review using PRISMA guidelines and keyword searches across databases.
• Included a Google search for grey literature, identifying 40 studies and 8 websites.
• Categorized evidence into non-clinical, clinical, observational, and anecdotal.

Main Results:

• The majority of evidence comes from observational studies; clinical and non-clinical data are sparse and inconsistent.
• Identified key research gaps including the need for randomized placebo-controlled trials, dose-response studies, and diverse participant populations.
• Highlighted the need for active placebos, psychological assessments, psilocybin-exclusive studies, and improved animal models.

Conclusions:

• Definitive conclusions on psilocybin microdosing efficacy are currently elusive.
• Numerous research gaps require focused attention in future scientific endeavors.
• Further rigorous research is essential to establish the safety and effectiveness of psilocybin microdosing.