Evaluating the attitudes of mental health professionals towards trials of MDMA a randomised vignette trial.
To compare attitudes of mental health (MH) professionals towards trials of methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy (MDMA-AP), with a neutrally labelled pharmacotherapy trial. A randomised controlled vignette study design, with experimenters blinded to group condition. Participants were recruited online via professional societies. Psychiatrists, psychologists and MH researchers from across Australia. Participants were randomly allocated to read a vignette about a trial of either MDMA-AP or a neutrally labelled pharmacotherapy. Comparison of the difference in four attitudes towards MDMA-AP and control How likely they were to (1) recommend participating, or (2) object to participating in the trial (3) their predicted efficacy and (4) concerns about the safety of the trial. There were no overall differences between professionals attitudes towards MDMA-AP (n51) and the control pharmacotherapy (n43) trial vignettes. Psychiatrists were less likely to recommend participation in the MDMA-AP than the control trial ( Psychiatrists, but not psychologists or researchers showed more hesitancy in recommending trials of MDMA-AP versus an unknown pharmacotherapy. Experienced MH professionals were more likely to have negative views about MDMA-AP trials than less experienced MH professionals. This may reflect the experience of prior unfulfilled pharmacotherapy innovation or exuberance associated with fewer years of practice. Research into, and implementation of, MDMA-AP may face barriers with certain MH professionals, which will need be addressed if MDMA-AP continues to show promise as an efficacious treatment. The study design was registered with the ANZCTR (ACTRN12620001068954).