Psychedelic microdosing: A new frontier for treating ADHD symptoms and emotional dysregulation

A new study published in the journal European Psychiatry has shed light on an unconventional approach to managing symptoms associated with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The findings suggest that small, repeated doses of substances like psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) could potentially help reduce ADHD symptoms and enhance some aspects of emotion regulation. These findings could pave the way for new treatments that focus not only on the primary symptoms of ADHD but also on improving emotional and social functioning.

ADHD is typically marked by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. Beyond these primary symptoms, many individuals with ADHD struggle with emotional regulation and empathy, which can impair their social interactions and relationships.

While conventional ADHD medications like amphetamines and methylphenidate effectively target the core symptoms, they often fall short in addressing these secondary issues. Interestingly, some adults with severe ADHD symptoms have turned to microdosing — taking minimal doses of psychedelics — as a self-treatment.

“Globally, up to 3% of adults are affected by ADHD. The core ADHD symptoms (i.e., inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity) are known and can be very debilitating. However, less known is that adults with ADHD suffer from problems with emotion regulation too,” explained study author Eline C. H. M. Haijen, a PhD candidate at the Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology at Maastricht University.

“Some studies even suggest that emotion regulation should be considered a core component of ADHD, as it is experienced by up to 70% by adult with ADHD. Emotion regulation involves all attempts to influence emotional experience and responses. For example, it may involve the ability to reinterpret an emotion-eliciting situation (i.e., cognitive reappraisal), but also the inhibiting strong positive and negative emotional responses (i.e., expressive suppression).”

“Related to emotion regulation is empathy, and together, impairments in these constructs may impair emotional and social functioning. Current conventional ADHD medication, such as amphetamines and methylphenidate, seems to effectively address emotion regulation impairments, but to a lesser degree than their effect on core ADHD symptoms. Therefore, we wanted to investigate the effects of a potential future alternative treatment option, microdosing with psychedelics, to investigate if microdosing is effective in improving emotion regulation and empathy in adults with ADHD.”

The researchers conducted two studies to investigate psychedelic microdosing’s impact on adults with severe ADHD symptoms.

The first study included participants who either had a formal ADHD diagnosis or displayed severe symptoms indicative of the disorder. Individuals participated on their own initiative, deciding when and how to microdose. The researchers collected data using a series of online surveys that participants completed at baseline (before starting microdosing), and then again two and four weeks into their microdosing regimen.