Nadeem Zohaib, Parker Stephen, McGovern Hugh, Sebben Bianca, Oestreich Lena Kl
Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Metro North Mental Health, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD, Australia.
Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2025 Jul 15;59(9):48674251346679. doi: 10.1177/00048674251346679.
Recent regulatory changes in Australia have approved 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine for treating post-traumatic stress disorder and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. However, limited data exists on Australian mental healthcare providers' attitudes, knowledge and readiness to implement with psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted between December 2023 and March 2024, targeting Australian general practitioners, psychiatrists and psychologists. Participants completed online questionnaires developed based on the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices framework to explore mental healthcare providers' knowledge, attitudes and practices toward psychedelics.
The survey was completed by 109 clinicians (21% psychiatrists, 56% psychologists, 23% general practitioners). Attitudes toward psychedelic-assisted therapy were positive. However, safety and efficacy concerns persisted, particularly among psychiatrists, who were significantly more likely than psychologists to perceive psychedelic use as unsafe under medical supervision and question the scientific rigor of current research. Self-rated knowledge positively predicted actual knowledge, though many clinicians relied on informal sources such as podcasts and Internet-based media, highlighting gaps in evidence-based education. Clinicians with personal experience of psychedelic use expressed higher levels of agreement with statements relating to psychedelics improving outcomes in conjunction with psychotherapy and showing promise in treating psychiatric disorders.
While Australian mental healthcare providers generally support psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, significant safety and efficacy concerns remain, particularly among psychiatrists. Targeted educational initiatives from professional bodies, emphasizing evidence-based training and accessible resources, are essential to support informed clinical decision-making and safe therapeutic practices in this emerging field.
澳大利亚最近的监管变化已批准3,4-亚甲基二氧甲基苯丙胺用于治疗创伤后应激障碍，批准裸盖菇素用于治疗难治性抑郁症。然而，关于澳大利亚精神卫生保健提供者对迷幻剂辅助心理治疗的态度、知识和实施准备情况的数据有限。
在2023年12月至2024年3月期间进行了一项横断面调查，目标是澳大利亚的全科医生、精神科医生和心理学家。参与者完成了基于知识、态度和实践框架开发的在线问卷，以探索精神卫生保健提供者对迷幻剂的知识、态度和实践。
109名临床医生完成了调查（21%为精神科医生，56%为心理学家，23%为全科医生）。对迷幻剂辅助治疗的态度是积极的。然而，对安全性和有效性的担忧仍然存在，尤其是在精神科医生中，他们比心理学家更有可能认为在医学监督下使用迷幻剂不安全，并质疑当前研究的科学严谨性。自我评估的知识能正向预测实际知识，不过许多临床医生依赖播客和网络媒体等非正式来源，这凸显了循证教育方面的差距。有迷幻剂使用个人经历的临床医生对与迷幻剂结合心理治疗可改善治疗效果以及在治疗精神疾病方面显示出前景的陈述表示更高程度的认同。
虽然澳大利亚精神卫生保健提供者普遍支持迷幻剂辅助心理治疗，但对安全性和有效性的重大担忧仍然存在，尤其是在精神科医生中。专业机构开展有针对性的教育举措，强调循证培训和可获取的资源，对于支持这一新兴领域的明智临床决策和安全治疗实践至关重要。
