Experiences of microdosing psychedelics in an attempt to support wellbeing and mental health

Summary & key facts

This small qualitative study interviewed 13 people who were microdosing psychedelics to try to support their mental health and wellbeing. The interviews were anonymous and text-based, and the researchers used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to understand participants' experiences. Three main themes emerged: people were seeking solutions, they experimented in a careful, scientific way, and they described microdosing as a catalyst for helpful changes. Participants reported perceived benefits to mental health and to thinking, physical states, and social life, but the study cannot prove microdosing caused these changes and has limits because of its small, self-selected sample.

Key facts:

• The study interviewed 13 people who said they were microdosing psychedelic drugs to support wellbeing or mental health.
• Interviews were anonymous, internet text-based, and semi-structured (meaning there were set topics but room to explore participants' own stories).
• Researchers analysed the interview transcripts using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), a method that looks at how people make sense of their personal experiences.
• Three main themes were identified: (1) Seeking a solution: agency and rationale, (2) Microdosers as scientists, and (3) Catalysing desirable and beneficial effects.
• Participants reported that they approached microdosing methodically and with purpose rather than using drugs recreationally.
• Participants described perceived beneficial effects on mental health, and also reported cognitive, physical, and social changes they linked to microdosing.
• The paper defines microdosing as ingesting a very low dose of a psychedelic (examples given include LSD, psilocybin, DMT and mescaline), often on a routine schedule.
• Because this was a small, qualitative, and self-selected sample, the study cannot show that microdosing caused the reported benefits and the findings may not apply to all people who microdose.

Topics

Chemical synthesis and alkaloids Natural Compound Pharmacology Studies Psychedelics and Drug Studies

Categories

Clinical Psychology Psychology Social Sciences

Tags

Applied psychology Interpretative phenomenological analysis Meaning (existential) Mental health Psychology Psychotherapist Qualitative research Social psychology Social science Sociology Superordinate goals