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Objective
To capture UK medical students’ self-reported knowledge and harm assessment of psychedelics and to explore the factors associated with support for changing the legal status of psychedelics to facilitate further clinical research.
Design
Cross-sectional, anonymous online survey of UK medical students using a non-random sampling method.
S...
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BACKGROUND
Psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain species of mushrooms, is known for its effects on anxiety and depression. It has recently gained increasing interest for its potential therapeutic effects, particularly in patients with advanced cancer. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the eff...
Psychedelics have a complex history marked by traditional use among indigenous cultures, early scientific interest, and subsequent prohibition. Despite their classification as controlled substances, recent decades have witnessed a resurgence of research into their therapeutic potential for various mental health conditions. However, most studies hav...
Psilocybin is a serotonergic psychedelic compound which shows promise for treating compulsive behaviours. This is particularly pertinent as compulsive disorders require research into new pharmacological treatment options as the current frontline treatments such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, require chronic administration, have signifi...
Background
The primary psychoactive drug in magic mushrooms, psilocybin, induces profound alterations in consciousness through the 5-HT 2A receptor. This review consolidates current research findings to elucidate the pharmacology, safety profile, and clinical applications of psilocybin.
Areas of Uncertainty
Despite initial concerns that psilocybin...
In this study, for the first time, we explored a dataset of functional magnetic resonance images collected during focused attention and open monitoring meditation before and after a five-day psilocybin-assisted meditation retreat using a recently established approach, based on the Mapper algorithm from topological data analysis. After generating su...
Citations
... 10 A multitude of articles documenting the perceptions and attitudes of psychedelics amongst psychiatrists, other clinicians, and even college students has been well documented in the published literature. [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] Overall, the article by Marks et al (2024) provides a valuable contribution to the literature on informed consent for psychedelic medicine, presenting a comprehensive framework for addressing the unique challenges posed by these powerful substances. As regulatory bodies and health care systems grapple with the integration of psychedelics into medical practice, the authors' insights and recommendations serve as a valuable reference for practitioners, policymakers, and ethicists. ...
Background
A diagnosis of cancer is often associated with significant psychological distress. Current approaches to cancer-related distress predominantly fall short of meeting the needs of patients. Recent investigations have shown that administering psilocybin in combination with psychotherapy might be effective at reducing distress in cancer patients. Oncologists are often ‘gatekeepers’, who oversee cancer patient care; if this intervention were to become more routinely available, it is important to understand doctors’ attitudes toward psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy.
Method
Nine oncologists who worked across two National Health Service Trusts in England were interviewed using a semi-structured interview approach. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interviews and guide the development of overarching themes and subthemes.
Results
The analysis revealed five overarching themes relating to oncologists’ experiences of cancer-related distress and attitudes towards psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy: current approaches to distress; attitudes towards psychedelics and psilocybin; quality research; service design and delivery; distress and patients from different backgrounds.
Limitations
Future research should aim to explore the experiences and attitudes of other professionals, such as specialist cancer nurses, who are more likely to broach the subject of distress with cancer patients.
Conclusions
Oncologists are open to novel interventions for supporting patients experiencing cancer-related psychological distress. Future research should aim to address their concerns regarding the safety and potential interactions of psilocybin with anticancer treatments and should stratify trials with different patient groups, owing to the idiosyncratic nature of specific types of cancer.
Introduction
This study evaluates the impact of a two-hour team-based learning (TBL) curriculum on medical students’ knowledge, comprehension, ethical understanding, and attitudes towards psychedelic therapies.
Methods
Sixty-three pre-surveys and fifty post-surveys assessed students’ perceived knowledge and attitudes using Likert scales. Forty-eight matched pre/post-knowledge tests with multiple-choice questions quantified changes in comprehension. The TBL approach featured independent learning, team readiness assessments, and application exercises.
Results
Post-curriculum, students demonstrated significantly improved test scores (mean 41.4% increase, p < 0.0001) and more positive attitudes across 16 of 18 items (p ≤ 0.0495). Overall attitude scores increased 23% (p < 0.0001). Qualitative feedback reflected enhanced comfort discussing psychedelics clinically. While some students expressed support for psychedelic-assisted therapy, others cited reservations.
Discussion
This innovative curriculum bridged an important education gap given the increasing relevance of psychedelic medicine. Findings suggest TBL enhances medical student preparedness in this emerging field. Continued curricular development is warranted to ensure proper psychedelic education aligns with patient needs and legislative policies. As psychedelic research progresses, maintaining instructional excellence is crucial for future healthcare professionals.
