MAPS Canada School of Psychedelics

Talk Abstract

Major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as clinical depression, is a prevalent and debilitating psychiatric condition characterized by persistent and pervasive low mood, loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities, and a range of cognitive and somatic symptoms. Some large-dose research on psilocybin has shown that psychedelics may be effective in alleviating the symptoms of MDD, but taking large doses of psilocybin may not be appropriate for all populations (for example, people with high blood pressure may be at risk). Microdosing, the practice of taking small, sub-hallucinogenic doses of a psychedelic, has grown in popularity in recent years, but there is very little research on it in clinical settings. Our study is a methodologically rigorous response to this lack of research: it is an 8-week, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial, with an emphasis on detecting the placebo effect and on inclusivity of underserved populations. In this talk, I will present some of the literature showing the benefits (and drawbacks!) of microdosing, show the way our trial will bridge some of the knowledge gaps, and suggest future directions for research on microdosing.