Louie Eva, Towers Ellen, Morse Alyssa R, Watt Joshua, Bryant Zachary, Haber Paul, Morley Kirsten
Discipline of Addiction Medicine, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Edith Collins Centre (Translational Centre in Alcohol, Drugs & Toxicology), Sydney Local Health District & Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
Int J Ment Health Nurs. 2025 Feb;34(1):e70010. doi: 10.1111/inm.70010.
Australian government approval has been granted for 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression, but the process of translating psychedelic-assisted therapies (PAT) into more widespread use is complex. Along with establishing the efficacy and feasibility of PATs, their acceptability amongst consumers is a crucial factor of successful implementation. This study utilised the Theory of Planned Behaviour to evaluate the acceptability of PATs amongst mental health consumers, identifying potential influences of these attitudes and predictors of PAT uptake. Participants completed an online survey between February and July 2023. Survey items evaluated consumer characteristics, acceptability of PAT (effectiveness, efficacy and social norms) and behavioural intentions to undertake PAT. The 254 participants had a mean age of 42.5 years (SD = 12.8) and 79.1% were female. Three quarters expressed a desire to access PAT. Acceptability scores indicated strong agreement regarding the effectiveness of PAT, social norms that moderately endorsed PAT and mixed feelings about its expected efficacy. Whilst univariate analyses indicated that previous psychedelic experience was associated with increased acceptability of PAT (ds = 0.63-0.80), multivariate analyses revealed that intentions to access PAT were associated with higher acceptability scores (ds = 0.37-1.32) and poorer experiences of conventional therapy (d = -0.31). Although a relatively large portion of participants had used psychedelics recreationally, the desire to access PATs was more strongly related to its acceptability, along with more negative experiences of conventional therapy. This implies that mental health consumers who are looking for alternatives to conventional therapy may view PATs as a desirable option, despite some safety reservations.
澳大利亚政府已批准将3,4-亚甲基二氧甲基苯丙胺（摇头丸）用于治疗创伤后应激障碍，将裸盖菇素用于治疗难治性抑郁症，但将迷幻辅助疗法（PAT）推广应用的过程很复杂。除了确定PAT的有效性和可行性外，其在消费者中的可接受性是成功实施的关键因素。本研究利用计划行为理论评估心理健康消费者对PAT的可接受性，确定这些态度的潜在影响因素以及PAT采用情况的预测因素。参与者于2023年2月至7月完成了一项在线调查。调查项目评估了消费者特征、对PAT的可接受性（有效性、功效和社会规范）以及接受PAT的行为意图。254名参与者的平均年龄为42.5岁（标准差=12.8），79.1%为女性。四分之三的人表示希望接受PAT。可接受性得分表明，对于PAT的有效性、适度认可PAT的社会规范以及对其预期功效的复杂感受，大家达成了强烈共识。单变量分析表明，以前的迷幻体验与对PAT的可接受性增加有关（效应量=0.63-0.80），而多变量分析显示，接受PAT的意图与更高的可接受性得分（效应量=0.37-1.32）以及传统治疗效果较差（效应量=-0.31）有关。尽管有相当一部分参与者曾在娱乐时使用过迷幻剂，但接受PAT的愿望与其可接受性以及传统治疗的更多负面体验更密切相关。这意味着，尽管存在一些安全方面的顾虑，但寻求传统治疗替代方法的心理健康消费者可能会将PAT视为一个理想的选择。
