title: Neuroenhancement - perspectives of Swiss psychiatrists and general practitioners.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although the ethical and health implications of neuroenhancement have been intensely discussed over the past years, little is known about the experiences and attitudes of physicians confronted with requests for neuroenhancing substances. The aim of this study was to explore general practitioners' and psychiatrists' familiarity with such requests and their willingness to prescribe these products.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nation-wide cross-sectional survey among general practitioners and psychiatrists in Switzerland was conducted. A questionnaire was developed, pre-tested and sent out to a pre-defined sample of 1,600 Swiss practising physicians in the fields of psychiatry and general practice/internal medicine in the German-speaking and French-speaking part of Switzerland.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 393 questionnaires were returned (response rate: 24.7%). 80.2% of study participants were encountered requests for neuroenhancing products in their own practice, mostly not exceeding 1-2 times a year. A total of 41.1% were undecided when asked if they categorically against neuroenhancement, 49% would decide on a case-by-case basis, and 9.6% would decide according to patients' wishes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Swiss psychiatrists and general practitioners are confronted with requests for neuroenhancement, albeit not very frequently. Most participants embrace a pragmatic position towards neuroenhancement, although there is also a considerable degree of uncertainty about the appropriateness of a categorical refusal. A minority would follow a consumer model that leaves the decision about the use of neuroenhancers to the client, even though this conflicts with legal requirements regarding drug prescriptions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Ethics, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Regula
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ott
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lenk
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Neuhaus Bühler
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Biller-Andorno
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000592:standards; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000592:standards; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D024803:Biomedical Enhancement / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000592:standards; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000941:ethics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000941:ethics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000941:ethics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents