Twenty percent better with 20 micrograms? A qualitative study of psychedelic microdosing self-rapports and discussions on YouTube

This qualitative study (n=198) of opinions on microdosing found that they were generally well-tolerated and were used for therapeutic or enhancement purposes. The study analysed 32 videos and the self-report reactions to those videos.

Abstract

Background: Psychedelic microdosing is the trending practice of using tiny repeated doses of psychedelic substances to facilitate a range of supposed benefits. With only a few published studies to date, the subject is still under-researched, and more knowledge is warranted. Social media and internet discussion forums have played a vital role in the growing visibility of the microdosing phenomenon, and the present study utilized YouTube contents to improve comprehension of the microdosing practice as well as the social interactions and discussions around microdosing.

Methods: Microdosing self-disclosure in YouTube videos and their following comments were qualitatively analyzed by inductive thematic analysis. Various software was utilized to enable gathering and sorting relevant data.

Results: Microdosing of psychedelic substances, primarily LSD and psilocybin, was used for therapeutic and enhancement purposes, and predominantly beneficial effects were reported. Many different applications and outcomes were discussed, and therapeutic effects for depression appeared especially noteworthy. Intentions for use were recognized as an influencing factor for the progression and outcomes of microdosing. The function of social interactions was mainly to discuss views on the microdosing phenomenon, strategies for optimal results, minimize risks, and share emotional support.

Conclusions: Potentially, microdosing could provide some of the same benefits (for certain conditions) as full-dose interventions with less risk of adverse reactions related to the sometimes intense experiences of higher doses. Microdosing may well also mean additional benefits, as well as risks, through the repeated exposure over extended periods.”

Authors: Martin Andersson & Anette Kjellgren

Summary

Psychedelic microdosing is a trending practice that utilizes tiny repeated doses of psychedelic substances to facilitate a range of supposed benefits.

Background

Psychedelic microdosing is a trending practice of using tiny repeated doses of psychedelic substances to facilitate a range of supposed psychophysiological benefits.

Studies of psychedelic microdosing have found profound, therapeutic, and sometimes spectacular effects. These effects have been evaluated through self rapports, surveys, or psychometric scales, and include improvements for mood, creativity, and depression, increased open-mindedness, less dysfunctional attitudes, stress, and distractibility.

Early studies on psychedelic substances found that 7 g LSD produced physiological and psychological effects, while 20 g LSD produced euphoria, hypomania, and distractibility. Some studies found that 2 mg doses were recognized by subjects, while others found no subjective effects at 30 g psilocybin.

Social media and internet discussion forums have played an important role in the growing visibility of the microdosing phenomenon. Our research team has published several studies based on data from online drug discussion forums.

Self-reporting and sharing of drug experiences in online text-based drug forums have proven to be an expedient source of qualitative data for research. However, the demographic profile of drug forum users might be tilted towards a more knowledgeable or specialized type of drug user.

YouTube has become the second most used website (and search engine) in the world and provides multilayered and rich data freely available for researchers to analyze. The present study utilizes software to facilitate gathering and sorting relevant data on psychedelic microdosing for qualitative analysis.

We hope this research adds to previous microdosing studies by including interactions and discussions among microdosers via the comments sections and other interactive functions of the YouTube platform.

This study was conducted to improve knowledge of the recent and contemporary phenomenon of microdosing psychedelics on YouTube.

Data collection and procedure

Data for the present study was obtained by using specialized software and a YouTube API key. A query search with the single keyword “microdosing psychedelics” was performed using the software Webometric analyst 19 September 2018, and 32 videos with self-rapports were included in the final dataset used for the qualitative analysis.

Sample

The 32 videos contained self-rapports from 34 individuals (24 male, 10 female), and the transcriptions consisted of 142,769 words or 763,307 characters (including spaces). The total views of the videos were 1,229,336 and the average view was 36 m 5 s.

Analysis

The transcripts and comments of 32 videos were qualitatively analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. All statements constituting mere second-hand information were ignored, and general viewpoints on microdosing were included only when the same individual also had direct personal experiences of the phenomenon discussed.

The coding was conducted on a semantic or explicit level within a realist epistemology. Eight overarching themes were identified after reviewing and refining the 231 basic categories.

Microdosing motives, expectations, and context

Microdosing was discussed in part as one modality in a personal health-seeking endeavor, incorporating diet, exercise, meditation or other techniques for health, well-being, and personal development.

Microdosing was used by users with normal functioning as well as those with limiting neuropsychiatric conditions. Some users were motivated by previous high-dose psychedelic experiences, while others had no previous experience of psychedelics or interest in psychoactive drugs.

The interest in microdosing is often influenced by user stories and information from YouTube or other social media. The comments section of the videos is often used to clarify information discussed in the videos.

Enhanced states and heightened senses

Microdosing was said to provide a subtle but significant change in psychophysiological states, and these changes appeared to be the foundation for the psychological advances and improved functioning outlined in the following three themes.

Microdosing was said to improve the sense of time perception, the sense of now presence, and the affective quality of the subjective experience. These effects were exemplified by a reduction in stress, sadness, anger, and other unwanted feelings.

Insights and transformation

Microdosers described thoughtful insights and psycho-spiritual changes, reportedly enabling improvements in personal orientation, priorities, and habits. These changes were often related to an increased awareness of, and subsequent desire to, live “authentically” and with more connection to nature.

Microdosing was reported to enhance transformational processes by allowing users to recognize and process lingering trauma and psychological “shadows”. This led to improved self-confidence and self-acceptance, and deeper connections in personal relationships.

Microdosing was discussed as a means of integrating previous insights and realizations attained by high-dose psychedelic use or other peak spiritual experiences. Users reported less procrastination and a spontaneous impulse to clean the house, tidy drawers, pay bills, or address other postponed or neglected tasks.

Improved abilities and optimal performance

The microdosers reported improved abilities or performance enhancement, including increased access to creativity and enhanced productivity, including both convergent and divergent thinking, and increased enjoyment of work.

Microdosing LSD in sports and physical exercise increased energy, focus, coordination, prevision, and overall motivation. A heightened sense of presence, extraversion, attendance, or persuasiveness in social situations improved the ability to influence others and generate new relations or work-related opportunities.

Relief and cure for health conditions

Several disorders, including depression and anxiety, were reportedly alleviated or eased by microdosing LSD. Several individuals with PTSD and bipolar disorder reportedly experienced significant improvements.

Addiction to drugs was recurrently said to be effectively treated by a microdosing practice, and it was also said to assist with motivation and lifestyle changes post-addiction.

Users with neuropsychiatric conditions noted improvements in cognitive and social abilities, and relief from problematic stuttering.

Microdosing psilocybin mushrooms was said to have neurological effects in cases of paralysis and dyspraxia. The effects of microdosing were described in the context of regained bladder control and bowel movement, and the alleviation of symptoms of treatment-resistant cluster headaches.

Unwanted effects and lack of results

Microdosing caused some adverse effects, but no serious events or harm was reported. Some users found themselves noticeably affected while attending a workplace environment.

The effects of meditation on anxiety were sometimes complex, and some users experienced increased anxiety, but this was also interpreted as a therapeutic or cathartic process.

Microdosing LSD was said to cause discomfort and a sense of being overly aware of bodily sensations, as well as increased body temperature and restlessness. Exaggerated impulsivity was another related effect that could potentially mean unwanted outcomes.

Microdosers reported pro-social and productivity-enhancing effects, but a smaller sample experienced contrary effects, including increased introversion and a lessening of practical or problem-solving skills.

Microdosing approaches, strategies, and dosage

Users recommended starting with 1/10th of a full dose every fourth day for a few weeks, and then having a reset period before starting a new dosing period. They also suggested handling anxiety by first using a full dose psychedelic treatment.

Some participants discussed using sub-perceptual doses of psilocybin with other, non-psychoactive medicinal mushrooms for supposed epigenetic neurogenesis benefits. These effects overlapped but also differed in several key ways, including the length of the effect and the focus of the effects.

To promote safety, use a reagent test kit, a sensitive scale, employ volumetric dosing, take breaks from microdosing, and refrain from impulsive significant life decisions under the influence.

One prevailing sentiment regarding preparation and mindset was that clear intentions were a vital component to the effectiveness and potential benefits of microdosing. It was also recommended to let go of specific expectations and trust the process.

General viewpoints on microdosing

This theme summarizes the general viewpoints on microdosing discussed by users. Biochemical and psycho-spiritual explanations were used to explain the benefits, including improved mood, confidence, and posture, as well as a sort of “reprogramming of the mind-body interface”.

Psychedelics differ from established or prescribed psychiatric treatment in that they help the user to recognize the root of their problems and work through them. Microdosing was similarly compared to and sometimes favored over prescription stimulants and off-label stimulants employed for exercising purposes.

Microdosing was generally understood to be a safe and affordable intervention with low abuse-potential and few serious side effects, but some users felt embarrassment and stigma for taking part in illegal methods.

Discussion

This study provided a systematic qualitative analysis of psychedelic microdosing in a natural setting, as it is discussed and characterized online via the YouTube.com platform. The results offer some insight into how microdosing is conducted, contextualized, and communicated among users.

Users of psychedelic substances reported positive effects and few side effects, but some also reported increased anxiety and negative emotions. Possible long-term risks were considered in a few videos, but no self-rapports of harm from long-term use were presented.

Evidence from full-dose psychedelic research shows that microdosing can have beneficial effects on mood, well-being, prosocial behaviors, cognitive flexibility, creativity, value alignments, nature-connection, personality factor openness, and mindfulness associated capabilities.

A few approaches and outcomes have not been discussed before regarding microdosing, including the integration of insights from spiritual practices, high-dose psychedelic experiences, or other peak experiences into the “normal state” of everyday life.

Microdosing was used for self-treatment of neuropsychiatric conditions, cluster headaches, and displacement of prescription drugs. It was also claimed to be an effective strategy in lessening the intensity and frequency of cluster headaches.

The self-rapport method can only provide rough estimations of dosages used, and the commonly suggested starting point of 1/10th of a “recreational” or “full” dose was often deemed either too much for daily activities or completely ineffectual.

Microdosing is a practice of taking small, spaced out doses of a psychedelic substance to achieve subtle, noticeable acute effects. It is rarely done without explicit and direct intentions for use, and this is key to the full potential and transformative processes ascribed to microdosing.

Microdosing was often incorporated alongside other modalities or lifestyle factors for health or well-being. It was said to support and better align these efforts.

The study sample was relatively diverse (prior knowledge, drug experience, age, gender, motives), but one commonality was a willingness to take on responsibility for personal health and development, either by a general lifestyle outlook or sheer desperation from not finding prescribed treatments and available healthcare sufficient.

Discontent with conventional therapies and adverse effects can incentivize the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), which can help to contextualize the growing microdosing phenomenon.

The comments following the videos revealed several peer-to-peer support aspects and how a joint creation and exchange of information regarding microdosing is advanced. The discussions were generally nuanced, risk-aware, and derived from an intent of personal and mutual betterment.

Our findings were overall in agreement with previous microdosing studies, but it is unlikely that expectations or other lifestyle factors and interventions influence outcomes. However, considering that psychedelic substances appear to be physiologically active at microdosing ranges, the overall credibility of the reported outcomes do not seem unlikely in principle.

Limitations, strengths, and future research

This study used a new methodology to obtain and process research data from YouTube, and it shows potential to be expedient in future research.

The study was a broad, truly inductive approach, without preconceived survey questions or other researcher constructs, and the self-selected and nonrandomized sample could contribute to bias. The reported therapeutic outcomes can be questioned as selective reporting or incorrect recall.

We recognize that self-disclosure videos of illegal drug use on YouTube are not likely a generalizable sample, but the comments sections are a predominant part of self-rapports and are not likely to be censored or reprimanded for such disclosure.

For future clinical research, we propose to incorporate the variable of personal intentions and to take into account the narrow and individually varying dose window of a psychedelic microdose.

Conclusions

Microdosing with psychedelic substances, primarily LSD and psilocybin, was used for therapeutic and enhancement purposes. Many different applications and outcomes were discussed, and the function of interactions was primarily to exchange views on the microdosing phenomenon, progress strategies for optimal results, minimize risks, and share social support.

PDF of Twenty percent better with 20 micrograms? A qualitative study of psychedelic microdosing self-rapports and discussions on YouTube