The Effects of Low Doses of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide in Healthy Humans: Demystifying the Microdosing of Psychedelics

Abstract

SEE CORRESPONDING ARTICLE ON PAGE 792 Acute Subjective and Behavioral Effects of Microdoses of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide in Healthy Human VolunteersBiological PsychiatryVol. 86Issue 10PreviewNumerous anecdotal reports suggest that repeated use of very low doses of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), known as microdosing, improves mood and cognitive function. These effects are consistent both with the known actions of LSD on serotonin receptors and with limited evidence that higher doses of LSD (100–200 μg) positively bias emotion processing. Yet, the effects of such subthreshold doses of LSD have not been tested in a controlled laboratory setting. As a first step, we examined the effects of single very low doses of LSD (0–26 μg) on mood and behavior in healthy volunteers under double-blind conditions. Full-Text PDF