- Current and former microdosers report lower trait anxiety compared to microdosing-naïve controls, indicating a potential beneficial impact of microdosing on anxiety levels.
- The relationship between microdosing and trait anxiety is mediated by trait mindfulness, suggesting that individuals’ ability to remain present and non-judgmental may enhance the effects of microdosing on anxiety reduction.
- When individuals with prior macrodose experience are excluded from the analysis, the associations between microdosing and trait anxiety become non-significant, highlighting the influence of past psychedelic experiences on the results.
Introduction to Microdosing
Microdosing involves the regular intake of a small, sub-hallucinogenic amount of a psychedelic substance, such as LSD or psilocybin. Anecdotal evidence suggests this practice can enhance productivity and alleviate symptoms of anxiety and mood disturbances. Nevertheless, scientific research on microdosing’s effects has produced mixed results, with some studies indicating that microdosers might experience heightened anxiety compared to those who do not microdose.
Psychedelics and Mindfulness Meditation
The authors noted that microdosing and mindfulness meditation (MM) share similarities that have drawn attention in recent years. Both have been found to improve anxiety and mood symptoms across various populations. Research indicates that MM can promote qualities such as openness, mystical experiences, and a sense of self-dissolution, which are also associated with psychedelic experiences. These practices appear to affect a brain network, known as the default mode network (DMN), linked to self-referential thoughts and anxiety-related disorders.
Research Methodology
The researchers conducted the study using an online survey with three groups of participants: current microdosers (186 individuals), former microdosers (77 individuals), and those who had never microdosed (234 individuals). Demographic information, microdosing history, mindfulness practices, and levels of trait anxiety were collected. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T) measured trait anxiety, while trait mindfulness was evaluated with the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-15).
Participant Characteristics and Results
From a total of 741 participants, 590 completed the questionnaires, with 263 reporting microdosing experience. The analysis found significant associations between current microdosing, trait mindfulness, and lower STAI-T scores. However, in the exploratory analysis that removed those with prior macrodose experience, the relationship between microdosing and anxiety levels became non-significant, suggesting that previous macrodosing might overshadow the benefits of microdosing.
Discussion and Implications
The results indicated that people who microdose tend to experience lower levels of trait anxiety, an effect that the authors found to be mediated by mindfulness traits. This raises the possibility that the therapeutic benefits of microdosing may be linked to the mindfulness skills developed through the practice rather than the microdosing itself. The findings hint that previous macrodose experiences significantly influence anxiety outcomes, potentially due to the deep psychological effects and insights gained during those experiences.
Despite these insights, the researchers caution that the findings should be interpreted carefully given the potential influence of a placebo effect and the inherent limitations of the study, including sample size and demographic variables. The study recommends that future research should employ randomized controlled trials to validate these findings and explore the intricate connections between microdosing, mindfulness, and anxiety within a broader, more varied population.
Read the full paper summary on Blossom.
