Assessing the Attitudes of Dutch Mental Health Care Professionals Toward Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy: A Cross-Sectional Exploratory Study

Dutch mental health professionals hold generally positive attitudes toward psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) for conditions like PTSD and major depression, according to a survey of 198 clinicians. Positive attitudes were associated with clinicians' own prior use of MDMA or psilocybin. Respondents considered psychiatrists and licensed psychologists the most suitable professionals to administer PAP, expressed concerns about maintaining therapeutic connection during patients' altered states, and preferred that PAP be delivered in specialized hospital-based facilities. The findings point to implementation needs, including targeted training and clear clinical guidelines.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) constitutes a novel treatment paradigm in mental health care practice that is currently being evaluated for its clinical efficacy and safety. Insight into the attitudes of clinicians toward PAP remains crucial for its successful integration into mental health care. This cross-sectional survey explores the attitudes of Dutch mental health care professionals toward PAP, specifically focusing on 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder and psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for major depressive disorder. The study included 198 clinicians who completed a 40-item online survey, distributed between April and May 2022. The study examined clinicians' attitudes toward PAP, the relation between these attitudes and several demographic variables, and clinicians' perceived implementation barriers. Respondents generally exhibited positive attitudes toward PAP, which in turn were related to previous use of either MDMA or psilocybin. Participants believed that psychiatrists and licensed psychologists were the ideal professionals to administer PAP, expressed concerns about their ability to establish a connection with patients during psychedelic states of consciousness, and preferred administering PAP in specialized facilities within hospital settings. This study provides valuable insights into the implementation of PAP and helps informing educational and training programs for clinicians, as well as integrating PAP into mental health care.