Psychiatric Residents' Perspectives on Psychedelics and Psychedelic Assisted Therapy.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Medical Education
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Psychedelics are gaining attention for potential therapeutic applications in psychiatry.
• Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is an emerging treatment modality.
• The role of psychedelics in psychiatric disorders requires further investigation and understanding within medical training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate psychiatry residents' attitudes, knowledge, and educational experiences concerning psychedelics and PAT.
• To assess the influence of psychedelic-related opportunities on residents' career choices and residency program selection.
• To identify gaps in current psychedelic education within psychiatry residency programs.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous survey was distributed to United States psychiatry residents in 2023.
• The survey assessed demographics, knowledge, opinions on psychedelics/PAT, and the influence of psychedelic opportunities on career decisions.
• Retrospective self-reporting was used to gauge the impact of educational and research opportunities on residency program rankings.

Main Results:

• Most residents reported limited formal psychedelic education but desired more instruction.
• A majority believe psychedelics show promise for psychiatric disorders (83.49%).
• Psychedelic-related opportunities influenced residency rankings (39.81%) and career choices (39.25%).

Conclusions:

• Psychiatry residents are optimistic about the therapeutic potential of psychedelics.
• Current training on psychedelics and PAT is inadequate.
• Expanding psychedelic-focused educational content is crucial for preparing future psychiatrists.