Among 856 U.S. mental health professionals—social workers, psychiatrists, and psychologists—there were no differences in confidence that psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) would be effective. However, psychiatrists showed a better understanding of PAT than social workers. Psychologists rated PAT as more acceptable than social workers did, and psychologists also rated it as a more reasonable treatment approach than both social workers and psychiatrists. Social workers perceived greater disadvantages of PAT than psychologists and psychiatrists, and they were less likely than both other groups to believe PAT could permanently improve clients' lives. The findings indicate a need for education and training across professions as PAT moves toward approval.
Social workers rated SSRI-assisted therapy as significantly more acceptable, appropriate, and feasible than MDMA-assisted therapy for treating adolescents with treatment-resistant PTSD, with medium-to-large effect sizes. Perceptions of MDMA risk were higher among those who read about MDMA-assisted therapy, and greater psychedelic stigma correlated with higher perceived risk of MDMA. However, more psychedelic knowledge was linked to less stigma and lower perceived risk. These findings suggest that social workers' concerns about MDMA-assisted therapy for adolescents may hinder clinical trial recruitment and future implementation.