Adults who microdose psychedelics report health related motivations and lower levels of anxiety and depression compared to non-microdosers
Abstract The use of psychedelic substances at sub-sensorium ‘microdoses’, has gained popular academic interest for reported positive effects on wellness and cognition. The present study describes microdosing practices, motivations and mental health among a sample of self-selected microdosers (n = 40...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-01811-4 |
| _version_ | 1819004386695708672 |
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| author | Joseph M. Rootman Pamela Kryskow Kalin Harvey Paul Stamets Eesmyal Santos-Brault Kim P. C. Kuypers Vince Polito Francoise Bourzat Zach Walsh |
| author_facet | Joseph M. Rootman Pamela Kryskow Kalin Harvey Paul Stamets Eesmyal Santos-Brault Kim P. C. Kuypers Vince Polito Francoise Bourzat Zach Walsh |
| author_sort | Joseph M. Rootman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The use of psychedelic substances at sub-sensorium ‘microdoses’, has gained popular academic interest for reported positive effects on wellness and cognition. The present study describes microdosing practices, motivations and mental health among a sample of self-selected microdosers (n = 4050) and non-microdosers (n = 4653) via a mobile application. Psilocybin was the most commonly used microdose substances in our sample (85%) and we identified diverse microdose practices with regard to dosage, frequency, and the practice of stacking which involves combining psilocybin with non-psychedelic substances such as Lion’s Mane mushrooms, chocolate, and niacin. Microdosers were generally similar to non-microdosing controls with regard to demographics, but were more likely to report a history of mental health concerns. Among individuals reporting mental health concerns, microdosers exhibited lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress across gender. Health and wellness-related motives were the most prominent motives across microdosers in general, and were more prominent among females and among individuals who reported mental health concerns. Our results indicate health and wellness motives and perceived mental health benefits among microdosers, and highlight the need for further research into the mental health consequences of microdosing including studies with rigorous longitudinal designs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T23:36:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d474cc9ce9d34dcd99ae385f8e7d2834 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T23:36:05Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-d474cc9ce9d34dcd99ae385f8e7d28342022-12-21T19:23:13ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-11-0111111110.1038/s41598-021-01811-4Adults who microdose psychedelics report health related motivations and lower levels of anxiety and depression compared to non-microdosersJoseph M. Rootman0Pamela Kryskow1Kalin Harvey2Paul Stamets3Eesmyal Santos-Brault4Kim P. C. Kuypers5Vince Polito6Francoise Bourzat7Zach Walsh8Department of Psychology, University of British ColumbiaDepartment of Family Medicine, University of British ColumbiaQuantified Citizen Technologies Inc.Fungi Perfecti, LLCQuantified Citizen Technologies Inc.Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht UniversityDepartment of Cognitive Science, Macquarie UniversityCenter for Consciousness MedicineDepartment of Psychology, University of British ColumbiaAbstract The use of psychedelic substances at sub-sensorium ‘microdoses’, has gained popular academic interest for reported positive effects on wellness and cognition. The present study describes microdosing practices, motivations and mental health among a sample of self-selected microdosers (n = 4050) and non-microdosers (n = 4653) via a mobile application. Psilocybin was the most commonly used microdose substances in our sample (85%) and we identified diverse microdose practices with regard to dosage, frequency, and the practice of stacking which involves combining psilocybin with non-psychedelic substances such as Lion’s Mane mushrooms, chocolate, and niacin. Microdosers were generally similar to non-microdosing controls with regard to demographics, but were more likely to report a history of mental health concerns. Among individuals reporting mental health concerns, microdosers exhibited lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress across gender. Health and wellness-related motives were the most prominent motives across microdosers in general, and were more prominent among females and among individuals who reported mental health concerns. Our results indicate health and wellness motives and perceived mental health benefits among microdosers, and highlight the need for further research into the mental health consequences of microdosing including studies with rigorous longitudinal designs.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-01811-4 |
| spellingShingle | Joseph M. Rootman Pamela Kryskow Kalin Harvey Paul Stamets Eesmyal Santos-Brault Kim P. C. Kuypers Vince Polito Francoise Bourzat Zach Walsh Adults who microdose psychedelics report health related motivations and lower levels of anxiety and depression compared to non-microdosers Scientific Reports |
| title | Adults who microdose psychedelics report health related motivations and lower levels of anxiety and depression compared to non-microdosers |
| title_full | Adults who microdose psychedelics report health related motivations and lower levels of anxiety and depression compared to non-microdosers |
| title_fullStr | Adults who microdose psychedelics report health related motivations and lower levels of anxiety and depression compared to non-microdosers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adults who microdose psychedelics report health related motivations and lower levels of anxiety and depression compared to non-microdosers |
| title_short | Adults who microdose psychedelics report health related motivations and lower levels of anxiety and depression compared to non-microdosers |
| title_sort | adults who microdose psychedelics report health related motivations and lower levels of anxiety and depression compared to non microdosers |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-01811-4 |
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