Healthcare Providers’ Attitudes Toward Psychedelics as Medicine – PSYCH: The Psychedelics As Medicine Report 3rd Edition

Findings from a UK healthcare professional survey suggest a workforce that is engaged with psychedelic research and broadly receptive to psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT):

Given that healthcare professionals will play a central role in delivering and supporting PAT in coming years, a survey was conducted to measure UK health professionals’ views on mental health solutions and their opinions of psychedelics.

The survey included 440 respondents:

Demographics of the cohort:

More than half of surveyed healthcare workers reported being affected by a mental health condition, indicating high personal familiarity with mental health burden and its impact.

Among respondents:

Respondents were asked about the efficacy of existing treatments for several conditions. Most described current treatment options for PTSD, depression, eating disorders, and drug and alcohol addiction as “somewhat effective”.

Depression received the highest “somewhat effective” rating among the conditions listed (45%). Drug and alcohol addiction scored lowest in perceived efficacy, potentially reflecting high relapse rates and the complexity of comorbid mental health drivers.

The section notes common treatments currently in use, including:

To gauge existing awareness, healthcare workers were asked how familiar they were with research into PAT across:

Familiarity was highest for research relating to depression and PTSD, followed by alcohol addiction, aligning with more visible clinical trial progress in these areas. The least recognised research areas were eating disorders and drug addiction, with expectations of more targeted clinical research in these topics in forthcoming years.

Differences by professional group were notable:

Healthcare professionals were surveyed on statements about whether psychedelics can provide therapeutic benefits or can be detrimental to users. Responses were mixed overall, suggesting scope for further professional education and training—likely to be strengthened as evidence, clinical use-cases, and training initiatives expand.

The most common view was that psychedelics provide therapeutic benefits in a medical setting. A strong view was also expressed that psychedelics can be detrimental to health in a recreational setting. Taken together, these responses indicate alignment around the idea that benefits are most credible in controlled environments with trained professionals.

At the same time:

The section also notes that while psychedelic compounds have shown lower addictive and physiological risks relative to many recreational drugs, harm reduction remains essential, particularly regarding psychological risks associated with inadequate preparation and non-constructive “set” and “setting”.

As US decriminalisation and legalisation initiatives expand, the section highlights the launch of the Psychedelic Peer Support Line by the Fireside Project, a hotline supporting users (and accompanying friends) with guidance from trained facilitators, from preparation through integration.

Healthcare professionals who had used psychedelics for therapeutic or spiritual reasons were the strongest supporters of therapeutic benefits:

Those who had tried psychedelics recreationally or for creative inspiration were more likely to agree with benefits than those with no psychedelic experience. Among those with no prior experience:

Stronger views also appeared among those with therapeutic or spiritual use histories regarding potential harms:

Across cohorts, there was broad agreement that psychedelics can carry risks both medically and recreationally—particularly among those with prior experience—indicating a recognition of both potential benefits and challenges. The section notes that practitioner experience can shape understanding and strengthen viewpoints, and references MAPS’ emphasis on practitioner experience among MDMA therapy providers.

Healthcare professionals were asked how much they agreed with statements relating to:

Key findings include:

The section attributes stronger support among healthcare providers—relative to consumers—to clinical proximity to people experiencing mental health conditions, awareness of ongoing research, and empathy for patient needs.

The survey indicates high levels of familiarity and a broadly positive outlook among healthcare professionals toward psychedelic-assisted therapy. Given that clinicians will be closely involved in the delivery of PAT, this level of support is positioned as a key enabler for scaling psychedelic therapies as medical treatments.

Yes, there is significant support within the medical community. A survey of UK healthcare professionals reveals that two-thirds are excited about the prospect of psychedelics as medicines. Additionally, six out of ten medical professionals expressed openness to providing or referring patients to Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT) if approved.

Awareness is generally high, particularly among doctors. Eight out of ten doctors reported familiarity with psychedelic research related to mental health, with just under half identifying themselves as “knowledgeable.” Nurses also showed strong awareness, with seven out of ten reporting familiarity with the research, especially regarding depression and PTSD.

Healthcare providers are most familiar with research concerning depression and PTSD, aligning with the visible progress of clinical trials in these areas. While awareness is lower for conditions like eating disorders and drug addiction, psychiatrists tend to be more knowledgeable about these specific applications.

Yes, personal experience appears to shape professional opinions. Healthcare professionals who have used psychedelics for therapeutic or spiritual reasons were the strongest supporters of their medical benefits, with 83% agreement that they provide therapeutic value in a medical setting. Even those with recreational experience were more likely to agree with the benefits compared to those with no prior use.

Many healthcare workers view current treatments as only “somewhat effective.” For example, while depression treatments like SSRIs are widely used, only 45% of respondents rated them as “somewhat effective.” Efficacy ratings were lowest for drug and alcohol addiction, reflecting high relapse rates and the need for new therapeutic tools like psychedelics.

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