Attitudes Toward Medical Psychedelics
Location
Guzman 201, Dominican University of California
Start Date
4-17-2019 6:00 PM
End Date
4-17-2019 7:00 PM
Student Type
Undergraduate
Faculty Mentor(s)
Veronica Fruiht, PhD
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
The use of classical psychedelics in a therapy setting can have a positive impact on many different psychiatric disorders such as mood disorders, anxiety, addiction, and overall spiritual wellbeing (Carhart-Harris et al., 2017). However, medicinal psychedelics have been stigmatized and removed as an option of treatment, just as medical cannabis once was. If given the same research and education opportunities as medical cannabis, medical psychedelics could resurge as a viable form of treatment. The goal of this study is to determine the extent to which perceptions of medicinal psychedelics are influenced by education, socioeconomic status and experience with depressive symptoms. This study consisted of 60 adult participants. Approximately half were randomly assigned to complete a reading about the benefits of medical psychedelics and the other half was given an unrelated placebo reading. Following the treatment participants completed the Attitudes Toward Medical Psychedelics Survey (Lewis & Sznitman, 2017), the Patients Health Questionnaire (Spitzer et al., 2001) and answered 8 demographic questions. Results are expected to demonstrate that after having read the informational reading, participants with higher education and socioeconomic levels as well as those with experience with depression will have greater acceptance of medical psychedelics. These finding may have a significant impact on the education and availability of non-conventional psychological treatment while providing a better understanding of how to present controversial medical research.
Keywords: Psychedelics, Medicinal Psychedelics, Psilocybin, LSD, Marijuana, Depression, Treatment Resistant Depression, Anxiety, Addiction.
Attitudes Toward Medical Psychedelics
Guzman 201, Dominican University of California
The use of classical psychedelics in a therapy setting can have a positive impact on many different psychiatric disorders such as mood disorders, anxiety, addiction, and overall spiritual wellbeing (Carhart-Harris et al., 2017). However, medicinal psychedelics have been stigmatized and removed as an option of treatment, just as medical cannabis once was. If given the same research and education opportunities as medical cannabis, medical psychedelics could resurge as a viable form of treatment. The goal of this study is to determine the extent to which perceptions of medicinal psychedelics are influenced by education, socioeconomic status and experience with depressive symptoms. This study consisted of 60 adult participants. Approximately half were randomly assigned to complete a reading about the benefits of medical psychedelics and the other half was given an unrelated placebo reading. Following the treatment participants completed the Attitudes Toward Medical Psychedelics Survey (Lewis & Sznitman, 2017), the Patients Health Questionnaire (Spitzer et al., 2001) and answered 8 demographic questions. Results are expected to demonstrate that after having read the informational reading, participants with higher education and socioeconomic levels as well as those with experience with depression will have greater acceptance of medical psychedelics. These finding may have a significant impact on the education and availability of non-conventional psychological treatment while providing a better understanding of how to present controversial medical research.
Keywords: Psychedelics, Medicinal Psychedelics, Psilocybin, LSD, Marijuana, Depression, Treatment Resistant Depression, Anxiety, Addiction.