Macrodosing to microdosing with psychedelics: Clinical, social, and cultural perspectives
This paper (2022) explores the influence of macrodosing and microdosing on various clinical, social and cultural perspectives. The influence of microdosing is relatively unexplored in a formal context. Still, informal accounts propose that microdosing plays an important role as a therapeutic intervention and a cognitive enhancement tool.
Authors
- Kaypak, A. C.
- Raz, A.
Published
Abstract
To date, the clinical and scientific literature has best documented the effects of classical psychedelics, such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, and dimethyltryptamine (DMT), in typical quantities most often associated with macrodosing. More recently, however, microdosing with psychedelics has emerged as a social trend and nascent therapeutic intervention. This variation in psychedelic practice refers to repeat, intermittent ingestion of less-than-macrodose amounts that do not cause the effects associated with full-blown “trips”. Microdosing paves the road to incorporating psychedelic drugs into a daily routine while maintaining, or even improving, cognitive and mental function. Unlike macrodosing with psychedelics, the influence of microdosing remains mostly unexplored. And yet, despite the paucity of formal studies, many informal accounts propose that microdosing plays an important role as both a therapeutic intervention (e.g., in mental disorders) and enhancement tool (e.g., recreationally-to boost creativity, improve cognition, and drive personal growth). In response to this relatively new practice, we provide an integrative synthesis of the clinical, social, and cultural dimensions of microdosing. We describe some of the overarching context that explains why this practice is increasingly in vogue, unpack potential benefits and risks, and comment on sociocultural implications. In addition, this article considers the effects that macro- and microdoses have on behavior and psychopathology in light of their dosage characteristics and contexts of use.
Research Summary of 'Macrodosing to microdosing with psychedelics: Clinical, social, and cultural perspectives'
Introduction
Punctuated by a checkered history, classical psychedelics such as LSD, psilocybin, and DMT act primarily via 5-HT2A receptor agonism and produce altered states of consciousness that have been investigated for therapeutic and recreational uses. Whereas the literature to date has concentrated on typical, perceptually altering ‘‘macrodoses,’’ a more recent practice—microdosing—refers to the repeated, intermittent ingestion of substantially lower amounts (commonly described as about one-10th to one-20th of a full dose, for example 10–15 µg of LSD) that do not produce frank psychedelic effects. Popular accounts claim benefits for creativity, productivity and cognition, but formal scientific study of microdosing remains limited and heterogeneous in methods and findings. This paper by Kaypak and Raz sets out to provide an integrative synthesis of clinical, social, and cultural dimensions of microdosing, and to compare and contextualise micro- and macrodose effects on behaviour and psychopathology. The authors aim to describe historical and contemporary contexts that have fuelled microdosing’s popularity, summarise available preclinical and human evidence about potential benefits and risks, and discuss sociocultural and ethical implications for research and practice.
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- APA Citation
Kaypak, A. C., & Raz, A. (2022). Macrodosing to microdosing with psychedelics: Clinical, social, and cultural perspectives. Transcultural Psychiatry, 59(5), 665-674. https://doi.org/10.1177/13634615221119386
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