European psychiatrists’ attitudes toward psychedelics: new study findings

A recent study published in Nature Scientific Reports offers insights into the attitudes of European psychiatrists toward “psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy”. The study surveyed psychiatrists across 33 European countries, revealing that while there is a general openness to the potential of psychedelics in treatment, concerns remain about their associated risks.

Key findings include:

• Moderate attitudes: European psychiatrists, on the whole, exhibited moderate attitudes towards the use of psychedelics in therapeutic settings. However, the data also suggested that opinions on this topic tend to be polarized.

• Impact of experience: A significant portion of the respondents (34%) reported having used psychedelics in the past. Notably, those with past psychedelic use or experience with PAP and psychedelic research (19.6%) held more positive attitudes towards psychedelics, irrespective of their psychiatric training and background.

• Openness and concerns: While there is a notable openness among European psychiatrists to the idea of psychedelics in therapy, concerns about the risks associated with their use remain prevalent.