Abstract:Psychedelics are a class of psychoactive substances that were studied extensively between 1943 and 1970 as potential therapies for treating a host of mental health disorders, including addiction. Despite promising early results, U.S. psychedelic research was halted in the early 1970s with the enactment of the Controlled Substances Act. As the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy develops, nurses can decide the role they will play in the continuing clinical and scholarly research of these substances, which may… Show more
“…Psychedelics are hallucinogenic drugs whose primary purpose is to trigger extraordinary mental states and/or an expansion of consciousness. Termed a psychedelic "renaissance," the beneficial use of psychedelics such as psilocybin, ketamine, and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has recently regained attention [ 1 , 2 ]. Psilocybin is an active ingredient in various species of mushrooms, often referred to as "magic mushrooms."…”
BackgroundPsilocybin use, along with other psychedelics, has seen an increased interest among professionals in the medical community due to its potential therapeutic benefits for psychiatric disorders, substance use disorders (SUD), and palliative care. While it is certain that more research is necessary as psychedelicassisted therapy becomes more prevalent, it will most likely be future physicians at the forefront of this neoteric care. Currently, physicians receive minimal training because of psilocybin's contextual information and its current enlistment as a Schedule 1 drug per the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Schedule 1 drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. As a rule, formal education on psilocybin is not included in medical school curricula, and very little is known about how medical students perceive it. The aim of this study was thus to assess current medical students' perceptions of their knowledge, concern for possible negative effects, and perceptions about medical psilocybin to provide a deeper understanding of which factors may predict their overall perceptions of its future therapeutic use.
MethodsMedical students' knowledge, concern for potential adverse effects, and perceptions of medical psilocybin were investigated using a cross-sectional survey study design. Data were collected in January 2023 from a convenience sample of United States medical students in years one to four of their program using a 41-item anonymous quantitative online survey. Multivariate linear regression modeling was performed to determine if perceived knowledge and beliefs about legalization would predict medical students' attitudes about psilocybin use for therapeutic purposes.
ResultsTwo hundred and thirteen medical students completed the survey. Seventy-three percent (n=155) were osteopathic medical students (OMS), and 27% (n=58) were allopathic medical students (MDS). Regression modeling produced a statistically significant equation: (F(3, 13) = 78.858, p < .001), with an R 2 = 0.573 (adjusted R 2 = 0.567), indicating that greater (perceived) knowledge about medical psilocybin, less concern for its possible adverse effects, and greater belief in the legalization of psilocybin for recreational use significantly contributed to positive perceptions of psilocybin use in medical practice.
ConclusionsIn this sample, medical students with greater self-assessment of their knowledge about medical psilocybin, less concern for its potential adverse effects, and more positive views about recreational psilocybin legalization predicted positive attitudes about its medical use. Interestingly, although some participants had positive perceptions about the legalization of psilocybin for medical use, endorsing its legalization for recreation was related to greater positive attitudes toward medical psilocybin in general, a finding that appears to be somewhat counterintuitive. More research is warranted to further explore medical trainees' ...
“…Psychedelics are hallucinogenic drugs whose primary purpose is to trigger extraordinary mental states and/or an expansion of consciousness. Termed a psychedelic "renaissance," the beneficial use of psychedelics such as psilocybin, ketamine, and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has recently regained attention [ 1 , 2 ]. Psilocybin is an active ingredient in various species of mushrooms, often referred to as "magic mushrooms."…”
BackgroundPsilocybin use, along with other psychedelics, has seen an increased interest among professionals in the medical community due to its potential therapeutic benefits for psychiatric disorders, substance use disorders (SUD), and palliative care. While it is certain that more research is necessary as psychedelicassisted therapy becomes more prevalent, it will most likely be future physicians at the forefront of this neoteric care. Currently, physicians receive minimal training because of psilocybin's contextual information and its current enlistment as a Schedule 1 drug per the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Schedule 1 drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. As a rule, formal education on psilocybin is not included in medical school curricula, and very little is known about how medical students perceive it. The aim of this study was thus to assess current medical students' perceptions of their knowledge, concern for possible negative effects, and perceptions about medical psilocybin to provide a deeper understanding of which factors may predict their overall perceptions of its future therapeutic use.
MethodsMedical students' knowledge, concern for potential adverse effects, and perceptions of medical psilocybin were investigated using a cross-sectional survey study design. Data were collected in January 2023 from a convenience sample of United States medical students in years one to four of their program using a 41-item anonymous quantitative online survey. Multivariate linear regression modeling was performed to determine if perceived knowledge and beliefs about legalization would predict medical students' attitudes about psilocybin use for therapeutic purposes.
ResultsTwo hundred and thirteen medical students completed the survey. Seventy-three percent (n=155) were osteopathic medical students (OMS), and 27% (n=58) were allopathic medical students (MDS). Regression modeling produced a statistically significant equation: (F(3, 13) = 78.858, p < .001), with an R 2 = 0.573 (adjusted R 2 = 0.567), indicating that greater (perceived) knowledge about medical psilocybin, less concern for its possible adverse effects, and greater belief in the legalization of psilocybin for recreational use significantly contributed to positive perceptions of psilocybin use in medical practice.
ConclusionsIn this sample, medical students with greater self-assessment of their knowledge about medical psilocybin, less concern for its potential adverse effects, and more positive views about recreational psilocybin legalization predicted positive attitudes about its medical use. Interestingly, although some participants had positive perceptions about the legalization of psilocybin for medical use, endorsing its legalization for recreation was related to greater positive attitudes toward medical psilocybin in general, a finding that appears to be somewhat counterintuitive. More research is warranted to further explore medical trainees' ...
“…Penn et al (2021) made the astute observation that Nurses are skilled in holding space as patients endure challenging events in real time and for prolonged periods, whether that be during childbirth, a sudden illness, an anxiety attack, or the time surrounding death. This skill translates well to being able to sit with a patient undergoing a therapeutic psychedelic experience, allowing space for whatever arises at physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual levels 53 . (p39) …”
Section: Implications For Midwifery Practicementioning
The research and use of psychedelic medicines to treat common mental health disorders has increased substantially in the past 2 decades. At the same time, knowledge is relatively uncommon among midwives regarding (1) the relative benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapy, (2) best practices associated with the delivery of psychedelic-assisted therapy, and (3) responsible integration of this potentially useful intervention into mental health treatment plans. The purpose of this review is to describe current applications of psychedelic medicines to treat common mental health disorders, to describe the current legal status of these medicines used in this context, and to explore the potential for midwifery practice in this area with further training. This article also addresses the disparities regarding LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC populations in relation to this topic and their historical exclusion from research and treatment access in this field.
“…Psilocybin has been studied for tobacco cessation, alcohol dependence, and depression/anxiety while methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has been used to treat patients with post-traumatic stress disorder. Positive results suggest the need for further research and consideration (Penn et al, 2021). Extensive information on the specific properties of psychedelic drugs not detailed here is available in the literature (Grieco et al, 2022).…”
mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…In light of the complex clinical issues presented by treatment with psychedelic agents, nurses must examine their personal biases and knowledge about these drugs (Penn et al, 2021). For those nurses interested in providing care to patients receiving this novel care, actions might involve keeping abreast of clinical research and recommendations, attending professional conferences on psychedelics, or choosing to work in practices where use of these agents is a common aspect of the care (Penn et al, 2021). Penn et al (2021) advocate the development of nursing competencies in the therapeutic use of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.…”
mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…For those nurses interested in providing care to patients receiving this novel care, actions might involve keeping abreast of clinical research and recommendations, attending professional conferences on psychedelics, or choosing to work in practices where use of these agents is a common aspect of the care (Penn et al, 2021). Penn et al (2021) advocate the development of nursing competencies in the therapeutic use of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. These authors also note that psychedelics are a “diverse class of psychoactive substances that exert a wide range of neurochemical, neuromodulatory, and hemodynamic effects on the brain” (Penn et al, 2021, p. 36).…”
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