Changing attitudes to psychedelic drug assisted therapy: The induction of empathy to enhance community support for innovative interventions in mental health
Journal of Psychedelic Studies August 18, 2022 Corey Botansky, John Innes 2 citations
People with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) face stigma that hinders community acceptance of psychoactive drugs used to augment psychotherapy. An experiment gave participants information about a client with PTSD or a physical condition (Parkinson's disease) with psychological symptoms. Participants felt more empathy for the PTSD client, and an empathy manipulation further increased this. Although participants viewed PTSD clients as more responsible for their condition, they also showed greater willingness to help, which increased with empathy. Fostering empathy may encourage community endorsement of enhanced therapy for mental illness, potentially influencing medical practitioners' acceptance.