Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34795334›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2021

Adults who microdose psychedelics report health related motivations and lower levels of anxiety and depression compared to non-microdosers.

Joseph M Rootman, Pamela Kryskow, Kalin Harvey, Paul Stamets, Eesmyal Santos-Brault, Kim P C Kuypers, Vince Polito, Francoise Bourzat, Zach Walsh

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 30 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
30citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

30 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
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  5. A contemporary exploration of motivations and practices of psychedelic use among emerging adult cannabis users in the United States: A qualitative analysis.Psychology of addictive behaviors : journal of the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors · 2026
    Article
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  7. Review
  8. Article
  9. Article
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  11. Review
  12. Article
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  14. ExploringJournal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025
    Review
  15. Article
  16. Review
  17. Is microdosing a placebo? A rapid review of low-dose LSD and psilocybin research.Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) · 2024
    Review
  18. Article
  19. Review
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Joseph M RootmanDepartment of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada. joeyroot@mail.ubc.ca.
Pamela KryskowDepartment of Family Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Kalin HarveyQuantified Citizen Technologies Inc., Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Paul StametsFungi Perfecti, LLC, Olympia, USA.
Eesmyal Santos-BraultQuantified Citizen Technologies Inc., Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Kim P C KuypersDepartment of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Vince PolitoDepartment of Cognitive Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
Francoise BourzatCenter for Consciousness Medicine, Redwood City, USA.
Zach WalshDepartment of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

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.

Indexed as

AdolescentAdultAnxietyCognitionCross-Sectional StudiesDepressionFemaleHallucinogensHumansInternational CooperationLysergic Acid DiethylamideMaleMental HealthMiddle AgedMotivationPsilocybinHallucinogensLysergic Acid DiethylamidePsilocybin

Identifiers

PMID34795334
PMCPMC8602275

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.