Psychedelic-assisted therapy has been gaining attention in recent years, with promising early results in clinical trials. However, negative attitudes toward psychedelics remain a potential impediment to the dissemination of these therapies. A recent study involving researchers from Portland Psychotherapy and funded by their social enterprise business model aimed to investigate the attitudes of psychologists, a key group of healthcare providers, toward psychedelics.
The study found that psychologists’ attitudes toward psychedelics were associated with a range of demographic, location, and personal variables. There were small regional differences in attitudes toward psychedelics, with psychologists located in the West and Northeast generally more positive toward psychedelics than those in the Midwest and South. Men and younger psychologists were also more positively disposed toward psychedelics, while psychologists who reported greater knowledge of the risks and benefits of psychedelics had more positive attitudes.
The study also found that knowing others who had positive experiences with psychedelics was more strongly associated with attitudes toward psychedelics than demographic variables. Personal experience with psychedelics predicted more positive attitudes toward psychedelics, and among those who had a personal experience with psychedelics, those who had more positive experiences had more positive attitudes toward psychedelics.
There were some limitations to the study, including the lack of data on sexual orientation, race, or ethnicity to assess their association with attitudes toward psychedelics. The study was also specific to psychologists and may not generalize to other professional roles. Additionally, the study used cross-sectional data, so causal conclusions cannot be inferred without future study.
These findings have implications for an increased need for education and other stigma-reducing efforts in some regions over others. Furthermore, including personal stories or case studies of people who benefited from psychedelics might be an important component of public education. The study suggests that psychologists are not monolithic in their attitudes towards psychedelics and that knowing someone who has had a positive experience is associated with more favorable attitudes towards psychedelics. This might inform education efforts by suggesting the need for case studies and personal success stories in helping clinicians understand the benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapy.
In conclusion, this study highlights the need for further research to understand the attitudes of healthcare providers toward psychedelics and the potential barriers to their adoption. It also emphasizes the importance of addressing stigma and providing education on the benefits and risks associated with psychedelic-assisted therapy to promote wider acceptance of these therapies.
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Author: Portland Psychotherapy Team
