Magic Mushrooms – an exploratory look at how mental health professionals feel and think about Psilocybin
Abstract
Psilocybin recently received breakthrough status by the FDA for its use in treatment of depression. We therefore investigated mental health professionals' (MHPs) opinions on Psilocybin (n = 155). Overall, attitudes were neutral but self-rated knowledge of Psilocybin was low. The term used in the survey, 'Psilocybin' or 'Magic Mushrooms', did not significantly affect their responses. Some variables (i.e., gender, attitudes towards medical cannabis, and personal history of psychedelic usage) were associated with ratings of Psilocybin. These results provide a baseline of MHPs' thoughts on Psilocybin and what should be considered in the future if it is FDA-approved.
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“Although researchers started to explore the effects of psychedelics in the 1950s, 12 psilocybin only recently was granted the status of breakthrough therapy by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment-resistant depression (TRD).”
- Authors
- Meyer, T. D., Meir, P., Lex, C., & Soares, J. C.
- Affiliations
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (US)
- University of Klagenfurt (AT)
- Corresponding author
- Meyer, Thomas D.
- Venue
- Psychiatry Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2022-10
- Volume
- 316
- Pages
- 114727
- ISSN
- 0165-1781 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4285605468
- Cited by
- 24
- References
- 18
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 1
- FWCI
- 4.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Psychiatry Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Keywords
- psilocybin, magic mushrooms, mental health professionals, attitudes toward psychedelics, depression treatment, gender differences
- MeSH terms
- Emotions, Hallucinogens, Humans, Mental Health, Psilocybin, Psilocybe
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