ArticleBJPsych open2026
Microdosing psilocybin for major depressive disorder: study protocol for a phase II double-blind placebo-controlled randomised partial crossover trial.
Article in BJPsych open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. It is linked to trial NCT05259943 (Microdosing Psychedelics to Improve Mood), which is not on this map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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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.
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.
Microdosing Psychedelics to Improve Mood
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
12 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMajor depressive disorder (MDD) is the leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting roughly 322 million people. Recently, doses of psilocybin have shown promise in treating mood disorders, sparking interest in other dosing practices. According to anecdotal reports and observational studies, microdosing psilocybin yields benefits to mental health; however, rigorously controlled trials have failed to produce compelling evidence for this.
aimsTo conduct a phase II, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised partial crossover trial to compare microdosing psilocybin to placebo for MDD, evaluating its safety, tolerability and preliminary antidepressant effects.
methodForty adults with MDD will be randomised to four doses of psilocybin (2 mg) or placebo (maltodextrin) once weekly over 4 weeks, then four doses of psilocybin (2 mg) once weekly for an additional 4 weeks. The primary efficacy end-point will be change in depression symptoms, as measured at baseline (0 weeks), after the experimental phase (4 weeks), and after the open-label phase (8 weeks). A battery of mood, well-being, attention, creativity, mindfulness and pro-sociality measures will be administered at each time point. Follow-ups will occur every 6 months for up to 2 years after the trial start date, as part of a long-term extension study.
resultsThe results of the primary outcome of this trial will be published as a manuscript in a peer-reviewed science or medical journal regardless of the magnitude or direction of effect.
conclusionsFindings will inform future research on microdosing psilocybin for MDD, regarding dose regimens, effect sizes and expectancy bias. Findings will also facilitate discussions on the comparable benefits of sub- versus threshold doses of psilocybin and the therapeutic value of radically altered perception.
trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05259943.
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Registered trials
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