The Acceptability of Psychedelic‐Assisted Therapy Amongst Mental Health Consumers: Utilising the Theory of Planned Behaviour
International Journal of Mental Health Nursing February 1, 2025 Eva Louie, Ellen Towers, Alyssa R Morse et al. 2 citations
Three-quarters of 254 mental health consumers surveyed in Australia expressed a desire to access psychedelic-assisted therapies (PATs) following government approval of MDMA for PTSD and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. Acceptability scores showed strong agreement about PAT effectiveness, moderate social endorsement, and mixed feelings about expected efficacy. While prior recreational psychedelic use was linked to higher acceptability, multivariate analysis revealed that intentions to access PAT were more strongly associated with higher acceptability scores and poorer experiences with conventional therapy. Consumers seeking alternatives to conventional treatment may view PATs as desirable despite safety reservations.