Description of the Questionnaire

The Attitudes on Psychedelics Questionnaire (APQ) is a psychometrically validated instrument developed to measure individuals’ general attitudes toward psychedelic substances. The questionnaire consists of 20 statements rated on a five-point Likert scale, where 1 indicates “Strongly disagree” and 5 indicates “Strongly agree.” These items are distributed across four distinct subscales: Legal Status of Psychedelics, Effects of Psychedelics, Risk Assessment, and Openness to Psychedelics. The instrument was developed and validated using a large general population sample in Croatia and demonstrates strong indicators of reliability and validity.

Objective

The primary objective of the APQ is to capture individuals’ beliefs, perceptions, and attitudes toward psychedelic substances, whether related to recreational use or potential therapeutic applications. The instrument provides insight into the level of acceptance, concern, or curiosity an individual holds toward psychedelics, making it suitable for use in research, educational, and clinical contexts.

Use of Data

Data collected through the APQ can be used to conduct descriptive statistical analyses, such as mean scores and standard deviations across the four subscales. Additionally, it facilitates group comparisons across variables such as gender, age, educational level, and substance use history. It is also suitable for examining relationships with other psychological or social constructs. In research settings, the APQ can be applied longitudinally or cross-sectionally to explore social and cultural trends related to psychedelic use.

Analysis and Use of Data

Data analysis involves calculating the sum of responses for each subscale, yielding subscale scores that range from 5 to 25. The total score ranges from 20 to 100, with higher scores indicating a more positive or open attitude toward psychedelics. The distinct subscales allow researchers to identify differences in specific dimensions such as perceived risk or support for legalization. Statistical analyses may include factor analysis, correlation studies, variance analysis, and regression modeling, depending on the research design and objectives.

Scoring

The scoring system is supported by high reliability coefficients, with an overall omega (ω) value of 0.949 for the full questionnaire. Each subscale also exhibits satisfactory internal consistency. The factor structure has been confirmed through principal component analysis, and the instrument’s validity is supported by strong correlations with related constructs and attitude measures. For use in different linguistic or cultural contexts, appropriate translation and pilot standardization are recommended to ensure construct equivalence.

References

Radic, T., Erdelja, D., Zivcic-Becirevic, I., & Jokić-Begić, N. (2022). Development and validation of the Attitudes on Psychedelics Questionnaire (APQ). Scientific Reports, 12, 19350. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23056-5
Radic, T., & Jokić-Begić, N. (2023). Psychedelics and mental health: Psychometric evaluation of attitudes in a general population sample. Current Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04673-0