Jason Luoma, Ph.D.
@jasonluoma.bsky.social
Psychedelics, MDMA, and shame researcher, treatment developer, author, psychologist, and therapy trainer, at the Portland Institute for Psychedelic Science.
I guess there's some small chance there are moderators that could show that certain people are helped and others get hurt, but all-in-all, the data is looking pretty grim for microdosing being more than placebo at this point. #psychedelicscience
November 27, 2025 at 8:47 PM
I guess there's some small chance there are moderators that could show that certain people are helped and others get hurt, but all-in-all, the data is looking pretty grim for microdosing being more than placebo at this point. #psychedelicscience
The only other possible explanation I can think of is that microdosing is equally likely to harm people as it is to help them. I've just not heard reports of widespread harms from microdosing, so that doesn't seem likely.
November 27, 2025 at 8:47 PM
The only other possible explanation I can think of is that microdosing is equally likely to harm people as it is to help them. I've just not heard reports of widespread harms from microdosing, so that doesn't seem likely.
So now we have 5 placebo controlled trials with healthy samples and two with clinical samples (ADHD and depression), none of which showed any lasting positive effects of microdosing. It's looking like microdosing is all or nearly all placebo effect.
November 27, 2025 at 8:47 PM
So now we have 5 placebo controlled trials with healthy samples and two with clinical samples (ADHD and depression), none of which showed any lasting positive effects of microdosing. It's looking like microdosing is all or nearly all placebo effect.
Study here: doi.org/10.1016/j.ne...
Redirecting
doi.org
November 14, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Study here: doi.org/10.1016/j.ne...
It seems like enough data is in now that microdosing does not have positive cognitive effects in healthy people (or if there is an effect it's very small). What's really need now are some well-controlled studies with people suffering from mental health conditions.
November 14, 2025 at 1:12 PM
It seems like enough data is in now that microdosing does not have positive cognitive effects in healthy people (or if there is an effect it's very small). What's really need now are some well-controlled studies with people suffering from mental health conditions.
Important caveats:
Only tested healthy volunteers (not clinical populations)
May be underpowered for very small effects
Future research needs to focus on clinical samples where therapeutic effects may be more detectable
Only tested healthy volunteers (not clinical populations)
May be underpowered for very small effects
Future research needs to focus on clinical samples where therapeutic effects may be more detectable
November 14, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Important caveats:
Only tested healthy volunteers (not clinical populations)
May be underpowered for very small effects
Future research needs to focus on clinical samples where therapeutic effects may be more detectable
Only tested healthy volunteers (not clinical populations)
May be underpowered for very small effects
Future research needs to focus on clinical samples where therapeutic effects may be more detectable
Why does this study matter? This adds to growing placebo-controlled evidence that microdosing may not enhance cognition in healthy people. If there's a mood effect, it looks like it's small and inconsistent. The gap between anecdotal reports and controlled trials keeps widening.
November 14, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Why does this study matter? This adds to growing placebo-controlled evidence that microdosing may not enhance cognition in healthy people. If there's a mood effect, it looks like it's small and inconsistent. The gap between anecdotal reports and controlled trials keeps widening.
The one likely reliable between-groups finding? People taking psilocybin reported significantly MORE negative bodily sensations—nausea, discomfort, altered body temperature, elevated heart rate.
November 14, 2025 at 1:12 PM
The one likely reliable between-groups finding? People taking psilocybin reported significantly MORE negative bodily sensations—nausea, discomfort, altered body temperature, elevated heart rate.
No positive results across the board:
No improvements in cognitive control, memory, or attention
No differences in well-being, mindfulness, or psychological flexibility
No enhanced creativity or cognitive flexibility
One social cognition finding likely a statistical fluke due to multiple testing
No improvements in cognitive control, memory, or attention
No differences in well-being, mindfulness, or psychological flexibility
No enhanced creativity or cognitive flexibility
One social cognition finding likely a statistical fluke due to multiple testing
November 14, 2025 at 1:12 PM
No positive results across the board:
No improvements in cognitive control, memory, or attention
No differences in well-being, mindfulness, or psychological flexibility
No enhanced creativity or cognitive flexibility
One social cognition finding likely a statistical fluke due to multiple testing
No improvements in cognitive control, memory, or attention
No differences in well-being, mindfulness, or psychological flexibility
No enhanced creativity or cognitive flexibility
One social cognition finding likely a statistical fluke due to multiple testing
The study details:
2 double-blind, placebo-controlled trials
100+ participants across the two studies
4 weeks of microdosing
Multiple cognitive tasks + mood measures
Participants remained successfully blinded throughout
2 double-blind, placebo-controlled trials
100+ participants across the two studies
4 weeks of microdosing
Multiple cognitive tasks + mood measures
Participants remained successfully blinded throughout
November 14, 2025 at 1:12 PM
The study details:
2 double-blind, placebo-controlled trials
100+ participants across the two studies
4 weeks of microdosing
Multiple cognitive tasks + mood measures
Participants remained successfully blinded throughout
2 double-blind, placebo-controlled trials
100+ participants across the two studies
4 weeks of microdosing
Multiple cognitive tasks + mood measures
Participants remained successfully blinded throughout
He also shares his concerns about
November 11, 2025 at 3:20 PM
He also shares his concerns about
It's also rare for psychedelic leaders to talk openly about their concerns for where this field may go. "I do have some very big concerns about where things are headed. ...I'm still betting it's going to be more good than bad, but compared to five, ten years ago, I'm more pessimistic."
November 11, 2025 at 3:20 PM
It's also rare for psychedelic leaders to talk openly about their concerns for where this field may go. "I do have some very big concerns about where things are headed. ...I'm still betting it's going to be more good than bad, but compared to five, ten years ago, I'm more pessimistic."
This is also a good podcast for psychedelic for researchers as he talks about his thinking process and history of how he developed his research and ideas.
November 11, 2025 at 3:20 PM
This is also a good podcast for psychedelic for researchers as he talks about his thinking process and history of how he developed his research and ideas.
"It's about the narrative of your life, what's meaningful to you" — he says it's more like therapy than traditional medication.
November 11, 2025 at 3:20 PM
"It's about the narrative of your life, what's meaningful to you" — he says it's more like therapy than traditional medication.
He talks about the idea that psychedelics may be interesting, compared to other anti-addiction drugs like nicotine patches or methadone, in that they have generalized anti-addiction effects. Most current drug treatments for addiction are based on mimicking the original drug in some way.
November 11, 2025 at 3:20 PM
He talks about the idea that psychedelics may be interesting, compared to other anti-addiction drugs like nicotine patches or methadone, in that they have generalized anti-addiction effects. Most current drug treatments for addiction are based on mimicking the original drug in some way.
You can read more about it here in the European Neuropsychopharmacology. doi.org/10.1016/j.eu...
Whether you're a researcher, clinician, or informed observer - this looks positioned to be the go-to reference for psychedelic RCT evidence. #psychedelicscience
Whether you're a researcher, clinician, or informed observer - this looks positioned to be the go-to reference for psychedelic RCT evidence. #psychedelicscience
Redirecting
doi.org
November 10, 2025 at 5:48 PM
You can read more about it here in the European Neuropsychopharmacology. doi.org/10.1016/j.eu...
Whether you're a researcher, clinician, or informed observer - this looks positioned to be the go-to reference for psychedelic RCT evidence. #psychedelicscience
Whether you're a researcher, clinician, or informed observer - this looks positioned to be the go-to reference for psychedelic RCT evidence. #psychedelicscience
Maybe most importantly: it's publicly accessible at ebipsyche-database.org
Not behind a paywall. Full database with individual study details, effect sizes, safety data - available to anyone tracking this field.
Not behind a paywall. Full database with individual study details, effect sizes, safety data - available to anyone tracking this field.
EBI-PSYCHE | Home
ebipsyche-database.org
November 10, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Maybe most importantly: it's publicly accessible at ebipsyche-database.org
Not behind a paywall. Full database with individual study details, effect sizes, safety data - available to anyone tracking this field.
Not behind a paywall. Full database with individual study details, effect sizes, safety data - available to anyone tracking this field.
The methodology is rigorous:
Only double-blind RCTs (higher bar than most reviews)
GRADE certainty ratings for every outcome
Comprehensive risk of bias assessments
Meta-analyses broken down by disorder AND compound
Only double-blind RCTs (higher bar than most reviews)
GRADE certainty ratings for every outcome
Comprehensive risk of bias assessments
Meta-analyses broken down by disorder AND compound
November 10, 2025 at 5:48 PM
The methodology is rigorous:
Only double-blind RCTs (higher bar than most reviews)
GRADE certainty ratings for every outcome
Comprehensive risk of bias assessments
Meta-analyses broken down by disorder AND compound
Only double-blind RCTs (higher bar than most reviews)
GRADE certainty ratings for every outcome
Comprehensive risk of bias assessments
Meta-analyses broken down by disorder AND compound
What it covers:
-All double-blind RCTs of MDMA, psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca
-PTSD, depression, anxiety, alcohol use disorder, ADHD
-Currently 30 trials, 1,480 participants
Will expand as new studies publish
-All double-blind RCTs of MDMA, psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca
-PTSD, depression, anxiety, alcohol use disorder, ADHD
-Currently 30 trials, 1,480 participants
Will expand as new studies publish
November 10, 2025 at 5:48 PM
What it covers:
-All double-blind RCTs of MDMA, psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca
-PTSD, depression, anxiety, alcohol use disorder, ADHD
-Currently 30 trials, 1,480 participants
Will expand as new studies publish
-All double-blind RCTs of MDMA, psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca
-PTSD, depression, anxiety, alcohol use disorder, ADHD
-Currently 30 trials, 1,480 participants
Will expand as new studies publish
What makes this valuable? First: it's a "living" review, meaning it updates every 3 months as new trials emerge. In a field moving this fast, having a continuously updated meta-analysis is huge.
November 10, 2025 at 5:48 PM
What makes this valuable? First: it's a "living" review, meaning it updates every 3 months as new trials emerge. In a field moving this fast, having a continuously updated meta-analysis is huge.