Healthcare Workers Back Psychedelics But Lack Crucial Knowledge, Study Finds
A new study published in Scientific Reports revealed that while U.S. healthcare professionals are largely open to the therapeutic potential of psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA, their understanding of their clinical uses and risks is limited. The research, led by Erin Wang and colleagues from Johns Hopkins University, surveyed 879 healthcare providers, shedding light on current attitudes, knowledge levels, and concerns about psychedelic-assisted therapies (PAT).
Mixed Knowledge, High Expectations
The vast majority of respondents, 93%, endorsed the potential of psilocybin and 76% supported the promise of MDMA in clinical settings. However, self-reported knowledge did not align with objective assessments. While participants rated their understanding of psilocybin’s therapeutic uses relatively high, only 5.5% answered all knowledge questions correctly. MDMA fared worse, with just 1.1% achieving full marks, highlighting significant knowledge gaps despite positive attitudes.
“Despite high self-rated knowledge, our findings indicate limited understanding of the potential uses, risks, and mechanisms of these substances,” the authors noted. The disparity suggests a reliance on popular media and personal …