Knowledge, attitudes, and concerns about psilocybin and MDMA as novel therapies among U.S. healthcare professionals.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to assess healthcare professionals' knowledge and attitudes regarding psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) with MDMA and psilocybin, focusing on openness to clinical use.
Results Summary
Healthcare professionals expressed moderate openness to clinical use of MDMA, with higher ratings for psilocybin. Concerns included lack of trained providers, financial cost, and potential contraindications. Prior psychedelic use, self-rated knowledge, younger age, and professional role predicted openness to MDMA use.
Population
879 U.S. healthcare professionals (71.2% female, 85.8% White, mean age 45.5 years), including registered nurses (25.4%) and physicians (17.7%).
Effective Dosage
Not mentioned
Duration
Not mentioned
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) with substances like psilocybin and MDMA | increase | conditions including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder | - | - | has shown promise | #1 |
Psilocybin and MDMA | increase | - | - | - | may become approved medicines | #2 |
- | increase | therapeutic promise | 879 U.S. healthcare professionals | - | endorsed strong belief | #3 |
- | increase | clinical use | 879 U.S. healthcare professionals | - | endorsed moderate openness | #4 |
- | increase | legal access to both substances | 879 U.S. healthcare professionals | - | endorsed moderate support | #5 |
psilocybin | increase | - | 879 U.S. healthcare professionals | - | higher overall ratings | #6 |
- | decrease | therapeutic uses, risks, and pharmacology | 879 U.S. healthcare professionals | - | revealed low knowledge | #7 |
Prior psychedelic use | increase | clinical use of psilocybin and MDMA | 879 U.S. healthcare professionals | - | predicted openness | #8 |
Self-rated knowledge | increase | clinical use of psilocybin and MDMA | 879 U.S. healthcare professionals | - | predicted openness | #9 |
Younger age | increase | clinical use of psilocybin and MDMA | 879 U.S. healthcare professionals | - | predicted openness | #10 |
Professional role | increase | clinical use of psilocybin and MDMA | 879 U.S. healthcare professionals | - | predicted openness | #11 |
- | decrease | clinical use of psilocybin and MDMA | physicians | - | reporting lower openness | #12 |
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) with substances like psilocybin and MDMA has shown promise for conditions including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Psilocybin and MDMA may become approved medicines in the coming decade. This study assessed knowledge and attitudes regarding PAT among 879 U.S. healthcare professionals via anonymous online survey. Multivariable linear regression was used to identify predictors of openness to clinical use. Most participants (71.2%) were female and White (85.8%), with a mean (SD) age of 45.5 (12.7) years. Registered nurses (25.4%) and physicians (17.7%) comprised the largest professional groups. Respondents endorsed strong belief in therapeutic promise, and moderate openness to clinical use and support for legal access to both substances, with higher overall ratings for psilocybin compared to MDMA. Objective knowledge items revealed low knowledge of therapeutic uses, risks, and pharmacology. Primary concerns were lack of trained providers, financial cost, and potential contraindications. Prior psychedelic use, self-rated knowledge, younger age, and professional role predicted openness to clinical use of psilocybin and MDMA, with physicians reporting lower openness. As psychedelics continue to garner popular and scientific interest, results indicate a pressing need for additional formal training to provide balanced, evidence-based information from trusted sources.