Predictors of attitudes toward psychedelics among psychologists in the USA

Summary

Psychologists' attitudes toward psychedelics vary with individual characteristics. Men, younger psychologists, those living in the West or Northeast US, those with greater knowledge of risks and benefits, those who are religiously unaffiliated, and those with direct or indirect experience with psychedelics report more positive attitudes. Previous addiction treatment training was not associated with more positive attitudes. These findings can help inform efforts to improve attitudes, such as using case studies in public education.

Study at a glance

Abstract

As evidence for psychedelic-assisted therapy accumulates, legalization becomes more likely. As a result, there is an increasing need for psychologists to become educated about psychedelics and their therapeutic effects as they will play an important role in disseminating this treatment. Therefore, understanding psychologists’ current attitudes toward psychedelics is integral in informing dissemination and implementation efforts. In this article, we examined associations between individual difference variables and psychologists’ attitudes toward psychedelics, including age, gender, region, religious affiliation, personal experience with psychedelics, friends’ or loved ones’ experiences with psychedelics, level of training in addiction treatment, and knowledge of psychedelics. Results indicated that participants who were men, lived in West or Northeast regions of the USA, were younger, had greater knowledge of risks and benefits of psychedelics, were religiously unaffiliated, or had direct or indirect (i.e. through peers) experience with psychedelics reported more positive attitudes toward psychedelics. The only variable not associated with more positive attitudes was previous addictions treatment training. These findings suggest that psychologists are not monolithic in their attitudes toward psychedelics. Furthermore, these findings can help inform potential paths for improving attitudes toward psychedelics among psychologists, such as by emphasizing the importance of using case studies in public education efforts.