What microdosing actually does vs. what people claim it does
345 replies · Therapy
I'm a clinical psychologist who has been following the microdosing research closely. The gap between what research shows and what enthusiast communities claim is significant. I want to lay out what's actually known and what's still speculation.
What blinded research shows: microdosing may improve mood and reduce anxiety at sub-perceptual doses. The Imperial College London self-blinding study found real effects on some measures. Crucially, expectation effects were also significant — people who knew they were dosing reported stronger effects than the same dose under blinded conditions.
What research does NOT show: consistent cognitive enhancement, productivity improvement, or creativity boost under controlled conditions. Some studies found no difference between microdose and placebo on objective measures. The anecdotal reports may be driven primarily by expectation and initial mood improvement.
My clinical take: microdosing is interesting and might be useful for some people with anxiety and depression. The cognitive enhancement claims are not well-supported. The risks are real but relatively low at sub-perceptual doses. If someone tells you it will make you smarter, ask to see the data.
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