Drug Effects on Mood and Behavior - Expectancy

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO · Jul 1, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring how a very low dose of LSD—a substance sometimes used in small amounts called "microdosing"—affects mood and behavior. The study is interested in whether knowing for sure that you are taking LSD or a placebo (a harmless, inactive substance) changes how people feel and act. Some participants will be told exactly what they are receiving, while others won’t know, to see how expectations influence their experience. Healthy volunteers will come to a single 4-hour session and receive either a tiny amount of LSD or a placebo under these different conditions.

To join, participants need to be fluent in English, have at least a high school education, and have a body weight within a healthy range. People with certain health issues, like heart problems, recent serious mental health struggles, or those who are pregnant or planning pregnancy, cannot take part. During the study, participants can expect to be carefully monitored while they receive the dose and share how they feel. This research will help scientists understand whether the effects people notice from microdosing are due to the drug itself or mostly from their expectations.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • English Fluency
• • High school education or higher
• • BMI between 19-30 kg/m2
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Individuals with a medical condition contraindicating study participation as determined by the study physician (e.g., liver disease, abnormal EKG, liver or cardiovascular disease)
• • High blood pressure (\>140/90)
• • Current suicidal ideation or suicide attempt in past 12 months
• • Past year severe substance use disorder
• • Personal or first-degree relative with history of psychosis
• • Currently taking any psychiatric medication (for conventional antidepressants must be off for ≥ 2 weeks)
• • Active panic disorder
• • Severe obsessive-compulsive disorder
• • Severe post-traumatic stress disorder
• • Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant