Attitudes and Beliefs about the Therapeutic Use of Psychedelic Drugs among Psychologists in the United States

Davis, Alan K.; Agin-Liebes, Gabrielle; España, Megan; Pilecki, Brian; Luoma, Jason B.

doi:10.1080/02791072.2021.1971343

Cited by 48 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…(2018) suggested that part of the reason for negative attitudes toward classic hallucinogens was the fact that psychiatrists were more likely to treat individuals who experienced severe adverse effects, which include development of psychosis or hallucinogen‐persistent perceptual disorder. It is also unclear whether the inclusion of MDMA in the current study and in Davis et al.’s (2021) research affected this perception of harm.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

“…(2018) and Davis et al. (2021) (see Table S1), counselors held similar views regarding the risk for long‐term cognitive impairment yet were more unsure about the risk for psychiatric disorders. Nearly two thirds of psychiatrists and nearly half of psychologists endorsed the view that psychedelics may increase one's risk for psychiatric disorders, compared to only one third of counselors.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…Davis et al. (2021) replicated a portion of the Barnett et al. (2018) study to understand the attitudes of psychologists toward psychedelics and PAT, who, like counselors, may not prescribe PAT but are likely to be involved in its delivery and working with clients who use psychedelics in naturalistic settings.…”

Section: Professional Attitudes Toward Psychedelics and Patsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Counselors’ attitudes toward psychedelics and their use in therapy

Hearn

Brubaker

Richardson

2022

Jour of Counseling & Develop

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The ''psychedelic renaissance'' is generating new evidence for psychedelics' potential to treat numerous mental and substance use disorders. In particular, the United States Food and Drug Administration is poised to approve psychedelic drugs 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and psilocybin for the use in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT). This renaissance has led to substantial public attention toward psychedelics, state and local changes to the legal status of psychedelics, and recent increases in the rate of psychedelic use among United States adults. Despite these advancements, the counseling profession has remained relatively disengaged from the research and general discourse surrounding psychedelics and PAT. In response to this gap, this study presents the results of a survey of counseling professionals' attitudes toward psychedelics and PATs. Results suggest counselors' attitudes toward psychedelic use and PATs are mixed, unless they are medically supervised. Furthermore, most counselors see potential in PAT and the need for additional research.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Section: Professional Attitudes Toward Psychedelics and Patsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Counselors’ attitudes toward psychedelics and their use in therapy

Hearn

Brubaker

Richardson

2022

Jour of Counseling & Develop

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“…The use of psychedelics, such as psilocybin (magic mushrooms), Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and ayahuasca have drawn attention due to their noticeable ability to alter consciousness in personally meaningful, therapeutic, and spiritual ways [ 10 ]. Indeed, clinical trials on psilocybin demonstrated its efficacy in reducing cancer-related anxiety and depression, treatment-resistant depression, major depressive disorder (MDD), and substance misuse [ 11 ]. This review aims to highlight and discuss the potential of fungal biologics including psilocybin, LSD and others as therapeutic alternatives (mycotherapy) for alleviating the symptoms of mental health disorders.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mycotherapy: Potential of Fungal Bioactives for the Treatment of Mental Health Disorders and Morbidities of Chronic Pain

Meade

Hehir

Rowan³

et al. 2022

JoF

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Mushrooms have been used as traditional medicine for millennia, fungi are the main natural source of psychedelic compounds. There is now increasing interest in using fungal active compounds such as psychedelics for alleviating symptoms of mental health disorders including major depressive disorder, anxiety, and addiction. The anxiolytic, antidepressant and anti-addictive effect of these compounds has raised awareness stimulating neuropharmacological investigations. Micro-dosing or acute dosing with psychedelics including Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD )and psilocybin may offer patients treatment options which are unmet by current therapeutic options. Studies suggest that either dosing regimen produces a rapid and long-lasting effect on the patient post administration with a good safety profile. Psychedelics can also modulate immune systems including pro-inflammatory cytokines suggesting a potential in the treatment of auto-immune and other chronic pain conditions. This literature review aims to explore recent evidence relating to the application of fungal bioactives in treating chronic mental health and chronic pain morbidities.

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“…Corrigan et al surveyed patients’ opinions on psilocybin therapy 31 . A study by Davis et al assessed American psychologists’ opinions on psychedelics 32 , while Hearn et al surveyed counselors in the United States 33 . All studies have so far used unvalidated self-developed questionnaires and presented their results as a cross-sectional overview of responses for each item.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validation of a new instrument for assessing attitudes on psychedelics in the general population

Žuljević

Buljan

Leskur

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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Although there is research interest to assess attitudes on psychedelics, no validated instrument exists for this purpose. We aimed to develop and examine the psychometric properties of the Attitudes on Psychedelics Questionnaire (APQ) in a sample of the Croatian general population. A cross-sectional, web-based survey among the general population was conducted on 1153 participants (62.1% female, 77.7% with a graduate or high school degree, 15.1% health care workers). We assessed participants’ ability to recognize psychedelic substances using a short knowledge test. The APQ consists of 20 items with four sub-scales: Legal Use of Psychedelics, Effects of Psychedelics, Risk Assessment of Psychedelics, and Openness to Psychedelics. This model demonstrated best fit in a confirmatory factor analysis. Total scale reliability was excellent (McDonald’s ω = 0.949, 95% CI = 0.944–0.953). A strong correlation with a similar unvalidated measure (r = 0.885, P < 0.001) demonstrated convergent validity. We observed an association between attitudes and knowledge on psychedelics (r = 0.494, P < 0.001). Younger age, male gender, and lower educational status were associated with higher APQ scores. The APQ is valid, reliable, and could be applied in assessing educational interventions, patients’ treatment outcomes, and the attitudes of different groups of experts. We encourage further validation of the APQ in English.

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Attitudes and Beliefs about the Therapeutic Use of Psychedelic Drugs among Psychologists in the United States

Cited by 48 publications

References 37 publications

Counselors’ attitudes toward psychedelics and their use in therapy

Counselors’ attitudes toward psychedelics and their use in therapy

Mycotherapy: Potential of Fungal Bioactives for the Treatment of Mental Health Disorders and Morbidities of Chronic Pain

Validation of a new instrument for assessing attitudes on psychedelics in the general population

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