Department of Pharmacology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
J Psychopharmacol. 2024 Oct;38(10):846-860. doi: 10.1177/02698811241278769. Epub 2024 Sep 16.
The applications of psilocybin, derived from 'magic mushrooms,' are vast, including a burgeoning practice known as microdosing, which refers to the administration of sub-hallucinogenic doses of psychedelic substances to obtain benefits without experiencing significant cognitive and perceptual distortion. However, current research is fairly new with several limitations and gaps that hinder adequate conclusions on its efficacy.
This semi-structured review aimed to identify and highlight research gaps in the field of psilocybin microdosing for future research.
A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses based strategy was employed, utilizing a chain of keywords and key phrases across multiple databases, augmented by a cross-sectional Google search for relevant grey literature in the form of the top 10 search results. A total of 40 studies and 8 unique websites were identified, summarized and tabulated into four distinct categories, namely non-clinical, clinical, observational and anecdotal evidence.
The majority of available evidence originates from observational studies, while non-clinical and clinical study findings remain comparatively sparse and inconsistent. Web-based findings were consistent with current research findings. Key research gaps were highlighted: the imperative for more randomized placebo-controlled trials, exploration of dose-response ranges, psychological and personality testing of participants, utilization of active placebos, greater diversity in study populations, an increase in psilocybin-exclusive microdosing studies and the refinement of animal models.
Definitive conclusions regarding the efficacy of psilocybin microdosing remain elusive, emphasizing the need for further study. Numerous research gaps necessitate consideration for future investigations.
致幻蘑菇中提取的裸盖菇素有着广泛的应用，包括一种新兴的做法，即微量服用，它指的是服用亚致幻剂量的迷幻物质，以获得好处，而不会经历显著的认知和感知扭曲。然而，目前的研究还相当新，存在一些限制和差距，阻碍了对其疗效的充分结论。
本半结构化综述旨在确定和强调裸盖菇素微量服用领域的研究空白，为未来的研究提供参考。
我们采用了基于系统评价和荟萃分析首选报告项目的策略，利用多个数据库中的关键词和短语链，并通过对前 10 个搜索结果形式的相关灰色文献进行横断面谷歌搜索进行补充。共确定了 40 项研究和 8 个独特的网站，将其总结并制表为非临床、临床、观察性和轶事证据四个不同类别。
大部分可用证据来自观察性研究，而非临床和临床研究结果仍然相对较少且不一致。基于网络的研究结果与当前的研究结果一致。突出强调了关键的研究空白：需要更多的随机安慰剂对照试验、探索剂量反应范围、对参与者进行心理和人格测试、使用活性安慰剂、增加研究人群的多样性、增加纯裸盖菇素微剂量服用研究以及改进动物模型。
关于裸盖菇素微量服用的疗效的明确结论仍然难以捉摸，强调需要进一步研究。许多研究空白需要考虑未来的调查。
