Burdens and resources of Austrian clinical psychologists: results of a qualitative study two years into the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic increased the mental health burden in the general population, enhancing the demands placed on mental healthcare professionals. METHODS: This study aimed to assess the burdens and resources of clinical psychologists that emerged since the beginning of the pandemic. N = 172 Austrian clinical psychologists participated in a cross-sectional online survey between April and May 2022. The burdens and the sources of support that emerged during the pandemic were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Mental health-related issues were identified as the greatest burden, followed by work-related themes and restrictions imposed by the government to combat the spreading of the virus. The most important resources mentioned by the clinical psychologists were social contacts and recreational activities. Practising mindfulness and focusing on inner processes and work-related aspects were further important resources mentioned. CONCLUSION: Overall, it seems that clinical psychologists have a high awareness of mental health-related problems related to the pandemic and use adaptive coping strategies to deal with them.

Exercise for peri- and postmenopausal women: Recommendations from synergistic alliances of women's medicine and health psychology for the promotion of an active lifestyle.

Adopting healthy behaviors is a multifaceted and complex process that poses significant challenges for individuals. Despite awareness of the detrimental effects of certain behaviors on health, many individuals continue to engage in risky practices. Traditional medical advice and prescriptions, while well intentioned, often fall short in fostering lasting lifestyle changes. Although individuals may also have good intentions, solely relying on doctor's counsel does not ensure successful lifestyle adjustments. One primary reason for this limitation is the lack of specialized expertise in behavioral modification among gynecologists and healthcare providers. Health psychologists are specialized professionals capable of effectively guiding and assisting individuals in modifying health-related behaviors. Their expertise in behavior change strategies and psychological interventions proves invaluable in empowering individuals to embrace healthier lifestyles and contributes to people's well-being. This paper emphasizes the importance of collaborative efforts between medical professionals, such as gynecologists, and health psychologists to promote healthy behaviors among peri- and postmenopausal women and enhance women's health. By forging integrative alliances, they can develop comprehensive and tailored interventions. By bridging the gap between medical advice and behavior modification, this collaborative effort has the potential to ensure a more effective intervention process. This holistic approach not only addresses women's specific health needs but also fosters sustainable behavior change when promoting healthy behaviors among middle-aged women. The ultimate goal of such a synergy is to improve women's health outcomes and contribute to a healthier society overall.

Psychological Preparedness of Psychologists during the COVID-19 Emergency: Are There Any Individual Differences?

The COVID-19 outbreak has posed an unprecedented global challenge. However, despite the large amount of evidence on the psychological consequences of the pandemic, very few studies have focused on psychologists themselves. (1) Background: The present study aimed to characterise the professional and clinical profile of psychologists facing the COVID-19 outbreak and to investigate the relationship between psychological preparedness and a series of potential predictors (e.g., sociodemographic and professional variables and psychological distress). (2) Methods: A total of 1115 psychologists fully completed an online survey. The data collection period started with the first wave of the pandemic. Participants were asked to provide sociodemographic and professional data and to complete three questionnaires assessing psychological preparedness, worry, and anxiety symptoms. (3) Results: Descriptive results showed that the COVID-19 outbreak did not cause an interruption to the psychological practice of professionals (both in the public and in private sectors) and that psychologists accepted the introduction of technological devices within their regime of work in order to guarantee their service to clients. Only a minority of participants reported clinically significant levels of symptoms of anxiety and worry. Regression analyses revealed that being older, having taken part in training courses on the COVID-19 emergency, and experiencing lower levels of worry and anxiety were all significant predictors of both cognitive and affective psychological preparedness. (4) Conclusions: Taken together, these findings seem to highlight that specific factors can enhance psychological preparedness among psychologists. Therefore, it is vital to inform authorities about the importance of providing emergency programmes to train healthcare workers, especially psychologists, on how to develop psychological preparedness when facing the negative consequences of critical incidents at a universal level, given their crucial role in promoting mental health.

Addressing the psychosocial aspects of transition to adult care in patients with cystinosis.

Cystinosis is a rare autosomal-recessive lysosomal storage disease that progressively affects multiple organs beginning with the kidneys. Patients require lifelong multidisciplinary care for the management of kidney disease and progressive extra-renal manifestations, and thus, they are especially fragile and vulnerable during transition from pediatric to adult care. Previous documents have provided guidance to help the medical transition of these highly burdened patients. Patients and their families often experience great psychological distress and face significant social challenges; for these reasons, they often need help from psychologists, social workers, and other psychosocial professionals. Due to the rarity of the disease, most psychosocial professionals have no expertise in this disorder and require advice. To this end, a steering committee (SC) composed of six experts, including pediatric nephrologists, psychologists, and social workers with experience in the care for patients with cystinosis, have identified and addressed seven key questions related to psychosocial challenges of the disease and the burden of treatment. Ten additional international experts (the extended faculty, EF) were invited to answer these questions. Since robust evidence is lacking, as in many rare diseases, conclusions were based on collective agreement between members of the SC and the EF, and the consolidated answers were summarized into expert opinion statements. The present document contains information on the concerns and psychosocial burden of patients with cystinosis and of their caregivers, and provides practical advice for timely and appropriate support to facilitate the transition to adult care.

Australian psychologists' knowledge, confidence, and practices in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder diagnostic assessment.

BACKGROUND: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). There are many documented barriers to FASD diagnostic assessment, including a limited number of trained clinicians. This study aimed to establish baseline levels of Australian psychologists' knowledge and practices in FASD assessment to develop training and improve future diagnostic capacity. METHODS: An online survey was completed by 106 Australian psychologists. The survey elicited respondents' demographics, knowledge about FASD, confidence in various aspects of assessment and perceived future training needs. RESULTS: Respondents reported a broad understanding of the FASD diagnostic term and potential harm of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). However, most respondents were not confident in their ability to conduct the psychometric assessments that provide a diagnostic assessment of FASD or ask about PAE. There was a significant positive correlation between the number of correct knowledge items and the psychologists' confidence in conducting FASD assessments. The clinical neuropsychologists demonstrated significantly greater knowledge and confidence in applying FASD diagnostic criteria and assessing PAE than school, clinical, and other psychologists. Most psychologists were more confident in their ability to apply the diagnostic criteria for other neurodevelopmental disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Recognition of FASD is growing in Australia, however, further work is required to improve clinicians' understanding of and confidence in completing FASD assessments. Most participants indicated a preference for online training to learn more about FASD assessment.

Pediatric Mental Health Care and Scope-of-Practice Expansions.

To examine the association between psychologist and nurse practitioner scope-of-practice (SoP) regulations and pediatric mental health service access. A nationally representative sample of children with mental health needs was identified using 5 years of National Survey of Children's Health (2016-2020). Utilization was measured in two ways: (1) unmet mental health care needs and (2) receipt of mental health medication. Expanded SoP for psychologists and nurse practitioners was measured based on the child's state of residence and the year of the survey. The associations between both SoP expansion and both outcomes were assessed using logistic regression models adjusted for multiple covariates. The probability of having unmet mental health needs was 5.4 percentage points lower (95% CI - 0.102, - 0.006) for children living in a state with psychologist SoP expansion; however, there was no significant difference in unmet mental health needs between states with and without NP SoP expansion. The probability of receiving a mental health medication was 2.0 percentage points higher (95% CI 0.007, 0.034) for children living in a state with psychologist SoP expansion. Conversely, the probability of receiving a mental health medication was 1.5 percentage points lower (95% CI - 0.023, - 0.007) for children living in a state with NP SoP expansion. Expanded SoP for psychologists is associated with improved access to pediatric mental health care in terms of both unmet need and receiving medication. Expanded SoP for NPs, however, was not associated with unmet need and lower receipt of medication.

Navigating the landscape: Roles, perspectives, and experiences of psychologists supporting gender diverse children and young people in school settings.

Purpose: This review aimed to explore and synthesize the perspectives and experiences of school-based psychological professionals providing support to gender diverse CYP across the world, to foreground the voices of those with relevant experience and support future practice. Methods: A systematic review of five databases (PsychINFO, CINAHL, ERIC, SCOPUS and PROQUEST dissertations and theses) was performed between September and November 2022. Articles were included if they contained qualitative, primary research data representing the voice of at least one school-based psychological professional with experience working with gender diverse children and young people. Articles were excluded if they did not contain primary research data, were quantitative, related to non-school based psychologists or focussed on participant views in the absence of direct experience working with gender diverse pupils. Articles were thematically summarized and organized into a data extraction table. Results: Eighteen studies were identified for review, including 11 studies based in the USA, five in the UK, one in Australia and one in Cyprus. The voices of school-based professionals, including school counselors, school psychologists, trainee and qualified educational psychologists, were represented. The themes created highlighted the importance of the environment in which psychologists were working, the reliance on their own views and values to guide their work in the absence of clear guidance, the role psychologists saw they had to advocate for gender diverse CYP, as well as barriers and systems they were fighting against. Conclusion: The review highlighted the need for psychologists to advocate for gender diverse children and young people, in an often non-inclusive environment where there was a need to work systemically with schools. Future research is needed to explore young people's experiences of the support that they are receiving and would like to receive.

Keeping Sane in a Changing Climate: Assessing Psychologists' Preparedness, Exposure to Climate-Health Impacts, Willingness to Act on Climate Change, and Barriers to Effective Action.

Evidence of the impact of climate change on mental health is growing rapidly, and healthcare professionals are being called to be active participants in protecting the population's health. Yet, little is known about psychologists' understanding of climate-health impacts and their role in mitigation actions. We surveyed Australian psychologists (N = 59) to examine preparedness in identifying and managing the impact of climate change on mental health, exposure to climate-health impacts, willingness to act, and barriers to acting on climate change. Data was analysed through descriptive and associative methods. We found that participants are not prepared to identify and manage mental health presentations related to climate change, and they are not engaged in climate change mitigation. We identified that a lack of knowledge of climate-health impacts and tackling and mitigation strategies, in addition to ethical concerns, were the main barriers to engagement with communication and advocacy. With the impacts of climate change on mental health expected to soar, there is a clear and urgent need to prepare the psychological workforce to address this public health issue by establishing professional education programs and reframing climate change as a health crisis.

Artificial intelligence and social intelligence: preliminary comparison study between AI models and psychologists.

Background: Social intelligence (SI) is of great importance in the success of the counseling and psychotherapy, whether for the psychologist or for the artificial intelligence systems that help the psychologist, as it is the ability to understand the feelings, emotions, and needs of people during the counseling process. Therefore, this study aims to identify the Social Intelligence (SI) of artificial intelligence represented by its large linguistic models, "ChatGPT; Google Bard; and Bing" compared to psychologists. Methods: A stratified random manner sample of 180 students of counseling psychology from the bachelor's and doctoral stages at King Khalid University was selected, while the large linguistic models included ChatGPT-4, Google Bard, and Bing. They (the psychologists and the AI models) responded to the social intelligence scale. Results: There were significant differences in SI between psychologists and AI's ChatGPT-4 and Bing. ChatGPT-4 exceeded 100% of all the psychologists, and Bing outperformed 50% of PhD holders and 90% of bachelor's holders. The differences in SI between Google Bard and bachelor students were not significant, whereas the differences with PhDs were significant; Where 90% of PhD holders excel on Google Bird. Conclusion: We explored the possibility of using human measures on AI entities, especially language models, and the results indicate that the development of AI in understanding emotions and social behavior related to social intelligence is very rapid. AI will help the psychotherapist a great deal in new ways. The psychotherapist needs to be aware of possible areas of further development of AI given their benefits in counseling and psychotherapy. Studies using humanistic and non-humanistic criteria with large linguistic models are needed.

Health Care Professional-Supported Co-Design of a Mime Therapy-Based Serious Game for Facial Rehabilitation.

This research letter presents the co-design process for RG4Face, a mime therapy-based serious game that uses computer vision for human facial movement recognition and estimation to help health care professionals and patients in the facial rehabilitation process.

The key components of a clinical psychology formulation: A consensus study.

OBJECTIVE: Psychological formulation is a key competency for clinical psychologists. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding the key components and processes of formulation that are hypothesized to contribute to poor reliability of formulations. The aim of this study was to develop consensus on the essential components of a formulation to inform training for clinical psychologists and best practice guidelines. METHODS: A Delphi methodology was used. Items were generated from the literature and discussed and refined with a panel of experts (n = 10). In round one, 110 clinical psychologists in the United Kingdom rated the importance of components of formulation via an online questionnaire. Criteria for consensus were applied and statements were rerated in round two if consensus was not achieved. RESULTS: Consensus was achieved on 30 items, with 18 statements regarding components of a formulation and 12 statements regarding formulation process. Items that clinicians agreed upon emphasized the importance of integrating sociocultural, biological, strengths and personal meaning alongside well-established theoretical frameworks. Consensus was not reached on 20 items, including whether a formulation should be parsimonious or adhere to a model. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide mixed evidence regarding consensus on the key components of formulation. There was an agreement that formulation should be client-led and incorporate strengths and sociocultural factors. Further research should explore client perspectives on the key components of formulation and how these compare to the clinicians' perspectives.

Psychologists’ Attitudes Toward EvidenceBased Practices: An Online Study with Child Mental Health Psychologists / Las Actitudes de los Psicólogos Hacia las Prácticas Basadas en la Evidencia (PBE)

Psychologists’ attitudes towards Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) may have an impact in adhering to such practices. The purpose of this study was to analyse the psychometric characteristics of the Portuguese version of the Evidence Based Practice Attitude Scale (EBPAS) (Aarons, 2004). This study also aims to characterize the attitudes of psychologists working in the field of child mental health and analyze the differences in these attitudes according to therapeutic approaches and professional experience. A sample of 71 (93% female) Portuguese psychologists (age M = 37.07, SD = 10.68) completed an online assessment protocol that included the EBPAS and a questionnaire assessing sociodemographic information, therapeutic approaches, and professional experience. The results support the construct validity and reliability of the measure. Portuguese psychologists seem to have more favorable attitudes towards EBPs compared to samples from other countries. When evaluating the differences in these attitudes considering the different variables, the results indicate that psychologists adopting a Cognitive-Behavioral orientation and with less years of professional experience show more favorable attitudes towards EBPs. This research contributes to a wider understanding about the factors that may influence psychologists’ attitudes towards EBPs and thus allow for more effective dissemination and implementation efforts. (AU)

Las actitudes de los psicólogos hacia las Prácticas Basadas en la Evidencia (PBE) pueden tener un impacto en la adhesión a dichas prácticas. El propósito de este estudio fue analizar las características psicométricas de la versión portuguesa de la Escala de Actitudes hacia las Prácticas Basadas en la Evidencia (EBPAS) (Aarons, 2004). Este estudio también pretende caracterizar las actitudes de los psicólogos que trabajan en el área de la salud mental infantil y analizar las diferencias en estas actitudes según los enfoques terapéuticos y la experiencia profesional. Una muestra de 71 (93% mujeres) psicólogos portugueses (edad M = 37.07, DP = 10.68) completaron una evaluación online, incluyendo un cuestionario para recoger información relacionada con las características socio-demográficas del psicólogo, su formación académica y experiencia profesional y el EBPAS. Los resultados apoyan la validez de constructo y la fiabilidad de la medida. Los psicólogos portugueses parecen revelar actitudes más favorables hacia los EBP en comparación con las muestras de otros países. Al evaluar las diferencias en estas actitudes considerando las diferentes variables, los resultados indican que los psicólogos que adoptan una orientación cognitivo-conductual y con menos años de experiencia profesional muestran actitudes más favorables hacia las PBE. Esta investigación contribuye a un mayor conocimiento de las variables que pueden influir en las actitudes de los psicólogos hacia las PBE y, por tanto, permite realizar esfuerzos de difusión e implementación más eficaces. (AU)

'Isn't it mad that we're all psychologists and we can't talk about our feelings?': A mixed-methods study exploring trainee clinical psychologists' experience of (non)disclosure of psychological distress during training.

OBJECTIVE: Literature on trainee clinical psychologists' mental health has highlighted elevated levels of mental health difficulties and/or psychological distress and low levels of disclosure within the workplace. The current study aimed to explore (1) trainee experiences of disclosure and/or concealment of psychological distress during their training, (2) beliefs, assumptions or predictions related to disclosure and (3) responses to disclosure. METHODS: A mixed-methods strategy was employed; 165 trainee or recently qualified clinical psychologists took part in an online survey. Thirteen of these were interviewed. Descriptive statistics and a reflexive thematic analysis were conducted to analyse the quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. RESULTS: The sample largely consisted of those who had disclosed distress. Beliefs related to negative judgement from others and feelings of anxiety and embarrassment were commonly endorsed responses within quantitative findings. Six main themes were constructed: (1) Diagnostic or psychological conceptualisations, (2) Worries about judgement complicate disclosure decisions, (3) Disclosure likelihood is determined by relationships, (4) Emotional support versus practical responses, (5) Desired changes that could increase disclosure and (6) Legacies of disclosure experiences. CONCLUSION: There is a need for training programme staff to prioritise emotional support, increase permission giving and enhance disclosure guidance. Further research including disclosure recipients is required.

[Psychedelics and treatment of mental disorders: A survey of attitudes and knowledge among psychiatrists, general practitioners and psychologists in Iceland].

INTRODUCTION: Interest in the use of psychedelics has increased following reports of their possible therapeutic potential. However, little is known about the knowledge of and attitudes towards the substances among health care professional who provide treatment for mental disorders in Iceland. An online survey was therefore conducted among members of the Icelandic associations of psychiatrists, general practitioners and psychologists. METHODS: Respondents were 256 in total, including 177 psychologists, 38 psychiatrists and 41 general practitioners that provided information on their background, type of work, knowledge of and attitude towards different types of psychedelic substances and their views on optimal service delivery if psychedelics were approved by licencing authorities and used for treatment. RESULTS: Around half of psychiatrists reported having received questions about treatment with psychedelics in their clinical work, compared to only 14,6% of general practitioners and 17,5% of psychologists. The majority of respondents had little, or no knowledge of the substances targeted in the survey. A majority also expressed negative attitudes towards treatment with psilocybin mushrooms, but was positive towards ongoing scientific research and felt that such a treatment should be prescribed and provided by psychiatrists. Moreover, the majority view was that psilocybin treatment should be provided in specialised clinics or psychiatric units in a hospital setting. Scientific articles on the topic, discussions with colleagues and information in the media were identified as having had most influence on respondents´ attitudes towards psychedelics. Most respondents were interested in further education on psychedelics. CONCLUSIONS: Respondents among these three professions felt that the time has not yet come to use psychedelics in the treatment of mental disorders in Iceland but thought more education on psychedelics, their potential efficacy and adverse health effects is important given the increased interest in psychedelics.

Abuse of power in the disciplinary actions of a state psychology licensing board: inequitable outcomes and early career psychologists.

The field of psychology has established high professional standards which have become a cornerstone of the practice of psychology. However, powerful boards tasked with administering these standards can operate with little oversight, making it difficult to monitor whether these institutions are operating in a fair and impartial way. In particular, early-career psychologists who have less experience and power in their initial years of independent practice may be singularly vulnerable as they have relatively little experience to navigate the profession, including fielding complaints that may be made against them to a licensing board. While it is essential to ensure early-career psychologists are upholding their commitments to the practice, there are risks in policing their activities without orienting toward growth, learning, and professional development. Even the smallest disciplinary action may never be expunged from a psychologist's record, resulting in long-term implications for insurance coverage, reputation and future professional viability in the field. Overly-punitive approaches can be distressing or even traumatizing. In this paper, we examine disciplinary actions of the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology (KBEP) from the years 2000 to 2020 (N = 65) to determine the methodology by which the Board administers its oversight function. We analyze the nature of the discipline received (fines, suspensions, continuing education, supervision) revealing a two-tiered system of punishments, and provide context regarding the nature of the disciplinary process and its impacts. We report on qualitative interviews of early career psychologists subject to disciplinary actions by the Board, and psychologists who supervised early career psychologists investigated by the Board. We compare legislation governing KBEP and make comparisons to the workings of licensing boards in three other states. Using these findings, we make recommendations for revisions to the applicable legislation and administrative processes of the Board to establish an improved balance between public safety, the well-being of new psychologists, equity considerations such as race, and the development of the practice of psychology in Kentucky. This work brings to light previously unexamined injustices that can knowingly or unknowingly be perpetuated by licensing Boards, and can be used to inform the creation of more just, balanced and inclusive professional Boards.

Responding to distress in cancer care: Increasing access to psycho oncology services through integrated collaborative care.

OBJECTIVE: Despite increased attention to the utility of collaborative care models for promoting whole-person care in cancer populations, there is a paucity of empirical research testing the impact of these care models on effectively identifying and serving highly distressed cancer patients. This study sought to experimentally test the effectiveness of a year-long collaborative care program on referral rates to psycho-oncology services for patients with moderate to high distress. METHODS: Data for this study consisted of 11,467 adult patients with cancer who were screened for psychosocial distress 6-months prior to, and following, the integrated collaborative care intervention. Psychosocial referral rates pre-, peri- and post- intervention were analyzed. RESULTS: Findings indicated high distress patients were at 3.76 (95% CI [2.40, 5.87]), 5.03 (95% CI [3.25, 7.76]), and 7.62 (95% CI [5.34, 10.87]) times increased odds of being referred during the pre-intervention, peri-intervention, and post-intervention, respectively, when compared to low distress patients, and these differences across time were significantly different (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Findings from this study suggest that the successful initiation of a collaborative care model within a comprehensive cancer center contributed to significantly greater referral rates of cancer patients with moderate to high distress to psycho-oncology services. This study contributes to the growing consensus that collaborative care models can positively impact the care of complex medical patients.

Refugees and asylum seekers who have experienced trauma: Thematic synthesis of therapeutic boundary considerations.

OBJECTIVE: Therapeutic boundaries are limits to appropriate behaviours within a therapist-client relationship (e.g. related to accepting gifts, self-disclosures, therapist neutrality and advocacy). Therapeutic boundary considerations are fundamental in the care of refugees and asylum seekers. Research on the experiences of therapists navigating such boundaries is sparse and warrants further exploration. The aim of this qualitative systematic review was to thematically synthesise literature regarding therapists' (psychologists, psychotherapists, counsellors) experiences of implementing flexible therapeutic boundaries with refugee and asylum seeker clients and determine how such applications have been helpful for therapeutic interventions. METHOD: Six databases were searched. Following full-text screening, 21 papers were included in the analysis. Boundary theory underpinned the analysis. RESULTS: Three major themes were developed: (i) Changes to Therapeutic Practice & Therapeutic Intervention, (ii) Re-Conceptualisation of Therapy as 'Clinical Political' and Re-Conceptualisation of Therapist Identity and (iii) Careful Monitoring of Personal Boundaries-Not becoming 'Hardened' or 'Haunted'. Papers described how, when used in a reflective, considerate way, flexible therapeutic boundaries can strengthen the therapist-client alliance and positively impact therapeutic interventions. Many therapists acknowledged making conscious efforts to re-conceptualise therapeutic work with refugee and asylum seeker clients from advocacy standpoints. However, systemic constraints, and lack of guidance, made this difficult to navigate and contributed to therapist burn-out. CONCLUSIONS: Boundary considerations manifested as interpersonal, structural and cultural changes to practice. These have implications for clinical practice and developing guidelines on boundary practices with refugees and asylum seekers. Future research should explore promoting therapist well-being and training needs for therapists supporting this population.

Gut feelings and lived experiences: a qualitative study of 'anti-diet' dietitians' and psychologists' motivations and experiences regarding the weight-neutral approach.

This paper examines whether the motivations and experiences of 'anti-diet' dietitians and psychologists represent a paradigm shift in healthcare. We conducted four 2-hour, discipline-specific focus groups with a total of 16 female participants residing in Australia. Our reflexive thematic analysis generated four themes that we consider to be stages of a weight-neutral paradigm shift: (1) a recognition of a mismatch between one's weight-centred training and one's lived experience of diet culture, which subsequently informs (2) gut feelings that influence their decision to reject the weight-centric paradigm, thereby leading to (3) exploring the anti-diet knowledge base and then subsequently (4) promoting or advocating for the weight neutral paradigm. Our findings represent a four-stage paradigm shift in action; emphasising the significance of lived experience in the weight-neutral turn, as well as differences in symbolic power between health professionals. Future research should focus on potential ruptures or conflicts within the weight-neutral paradigm itself, and look more deeply into the experiences of other health professionals who are critical of the weight-centred approach.

Psychologists' and psychotherapists' knowledge, attitudes, and clinical practices regarding the therapeutic use of psychedelics.

INTRODUCTION: This study explored the current knowledge, attitudes, and clinical practices regarding psychedelics among mental health professionals in California, where state legislation to decriminalize psychedelics has been proposed. METHOD: Two hundred thirty-seven mental health providers (74% female; mean age 54; 83% White; 46% psychologists) completed a 37-item online survey between November 2021 and February 2022, disseminated through local and state-wide professional organizations in California. RESULTS: Providers endorsed limited knowledge about the risks and benefits of psychedelic use (M = 4.7 and 5.4, respectively, with 10 = high knowledge) and inadequate knowledge to counsel patients on use (45%). Gaps in knowledge related to psychedelic drug scheduling and current use in clinical research were identified. Providers expressed support for additional psychedelic research (97%), approval of recreational (66%) and medical (91%) psychedelic use, belief in the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics (89%), and concerns about safety (33%) and potential psychiatric risks (27%). Results indicated that most providers discuss psychedelic use with patients (73%), yet many do not feel comfortable addressing the effects of use (49%). There were significant correlations between knowledge and attitudes towards psychedelics (r = 0.2, p = .006; r = 0.31, p < .001) and attitudes and clinical practices (r = 0.34, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that providers are interested in psychedelic-assisted treatments and hold favourable attitudes towards the therapeutic use of psychedelics yet lack the knowledge to appropriately counsel patients, highlighting the need for additional provider education about psychedelics.