Assessing the Attitudes of Dutch Mental Health Care Professionals Toward Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy: A Cross-Sectional Exploratory Study
Annika Wirsching, Erwin Krediet, Martijn H B Koolen, Michiel van Elk
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs June 23, 2025 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2025.2508156 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 198 |
| Population | Dutch mental health care professionals |
| Intervention | psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for major depressive disorder |
| Topics | Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Cross-sectional study Mental health care Exploratory research Psychotherapist Clinical psychology |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key findings | Dutch clinicians generally hold positive attitudes toward PAP, which are related to their own prior use of MDMA or psilocybin. |
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) constitutes a novel treatment paradigm in mental health care practice that is currently being evaluated for its clinical efficacy and safety. Insight into the attitudes of clinicians toward PAP remains crucial for its successful integration into mental health care. This cross-sectional survey explores the attitudes of Dutch mental health care professionals toward PAP, specifically focusing on 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder and psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for major depressive disorder. The study included 198 clinicians who completed a 40-item online survey, distributed between April and May 2022. The study examined clinicians' attitudes toward PAP, the relation between these attitudes and several demographic variables, and clinicians' perceived implementation barriers. Respondents generally exhibited positive attitudes toward PAP, which in turn were related to previous use of either MDMA or psilocybin. Participants believed that psychiatrists and licensed psychologists were the ideal professionals to administer PAP, expressed concerns about their ability to establish a connection with patients during psychedelic states of consciousness, and preferred administering PAP in specialized facilities within hospital settings. This study provides valuable insights into the implementation of PAP and helps informing educational and training programs for clinicians, as well as integrating PAP into mental health care.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Beyond symptom reduction: DMT improves anxiety, life satisfaction, and quality of life in healthy volunteers and patients with depression Journal of Psychopharmacology July 8, 2026
- Attitudes of Mental Healthcare Professionals Towards the Use of Psychedelics in the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders: A Systematic Review Journal of Psychoactive Drugs June 17, 2026
- Psilocybin and Mental Health Outcomes: Scoping Review with ☸SAIMSARA SAIMSARA Journal June 15, 2026
- Unlocking 'stuckness' and catalysing change: A qualitative study of clinician and service leader perspectives on psychedelic-assisted therapy for substance use and mental health problems. Addiction March 30, 2026
Cites 26
- Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression. New England Journal of Medicine November 3, 2022
- MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. Nature Medicine June 1, 2021
- Global Street Food: la cocina de la calle Diseño interior 2009
- MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of PTSD: study design and rationale for phase 3 trials based on pooled analysis of six phase 2 randomized controlled trials. Psychopharmacology September 1, 2019
- Blinding and expectancy confounds in psychedelic randomized controlled trials Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology May 26, 2021
and 21 more in the library