Dataset Information

Evaluating the attitudes of mental health professionals towards trials of MDMA: a randomised vignette trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To compare attitudes of mental health (MH) professionals towards trials of methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy (MDMA-AP), with a neutrally labelled pharmacotherapy trial.

Design

A randomised controlled vignette study design, with experimenters blinded to group condition.

Setting

Participants were recruited online via professional societies.

Participants

Psychiatrists, psychologists and MH researchers from across Australia.

Interventions

Participants were randomly allocated to read a vignette about a trial of either MDMA-AP or a neutrally labelled pharmacotherapy.

Outcomes

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.

Results

There were no overall differences between professional's attitudes towards MDMA-AP (n=51) and the control pharmacotherapy (n=43) trial vignettes. Psychiatrists were less likely to recommend participation in the MDMA-AP than the control trial (d=0.72, p=0.02), but did not differ in other attitudes. Psychologists and researchers did not differ in any attitudes. The correlation between professional experience and both: (1) concern about, and (2) strength of objection to, the trial, was higher for MDMA-AP, than control (d=0.60, p=0.01 and d=0.40, p=0.03, respectively).

Conclusions

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.

Trial registration number

The study design was registered with the ANZCTR (ACTRN12620001068954).

SUBMITTER: Wright DJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9703308 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Evaluating the attitudes of mental health professionals towards trials of MDMA: a randomised vignette trial.

Wright Dean J DJ Colagiuri Ben B Glozier Nick N

BMJ open 20221125 11

<h4>Objectives</h4>To compare attitudes of mental health (MH) professionals towards trials of methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy (MDMA-AP), with a neutrally labelled pharmacotherapy trial.<h4>Design</h4>A randomised controlled vignette study design, with experimenters blinded to group condition.<h4>Setting</h4>Participants were recruited online via professional societies.<h4>Participants</h4>Psychiatrists, psychologists and MH researchers from across Australia.<h4>Interventions ...[more]

PMID: 36428011

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Project description:IntroductionMental disorders such as depression are common, and an estimated 264 million people are affected by them throughout the world. In recent years, studies on digital health interventions to treat mental disorders have shown evidence of their efficacy, and interest in using them has increased as a result. In the primary care setting, depression and anxiety are the two most frequently diagnosed and treated mental disorders. When they do not refer them to specialists, primary care professionals such as general practitioners treat patients with mental disorders themselves but have insufficient time to treat them adequately. Furthermore, there is a shortage of psychotherapists and those that exist have long waiting lists for an appointment. The purpose of this mixed methods systematic review is to explore the attitudes of primary care professionals towards the use of digital health interventions in the treatment of patients with mental disorders. Their attitudes will provide an indication whether digital mental health interventions can effectively complement standard care in the primary care setting.Methods and analysisWe searched for qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods studies published in English, German, Spanish, Russian, French and Dutch after January 2010 for inclusion in the review. The included studies must involve digital mental health interventions conducted via computer and/or mobile devices in the primary care setting. The search was conducted in July 2020 in the following electronic bibliographic databases: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Web of Science Core Collection. Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts and full texts and extract data. We will use the 'Integrated methodology' framework to combine both quantitative and qualitative data.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not required. We will disseminate the results of the mixed methods systematic review in a peer-reviewed journal and scientific conferences.Prospero registration numberCRD42020188879.

Dataset Information

Evaluating the attitudes of mental health professionals towards trials of MDMA: a randomised vignette trial.

Objectives

Design

Setting

Participants

Interventions

Outcomes

Results

Conclusions

Trial registration number

Publications

Evaluating the attitudes of mental health professionals towards trials of MDMA: a randomised vignette trial.

Similar Datasets

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