A Comparison of Attitudes Toward Pharmacological Treatment Versus Enhancement Under Competitive and Noncompetitive Conditions

Background: The goal of this study was to examine how the variables of treatment versus enhancement, competition, type of behavioral characteristic, and a person's history of enhancer or psychotropic medication use are related to acceptability and ethical concerns raised by psychotropic drug use. Methods: Participants completed online surveys probing acceptability (e.g., a person has the right to use a drug) and ethical concerns (e.g., fairness, authenticity) of a hypothetical drug described as effective in altering different behavioral characteristics under either competitive or noncompetitive situations. Past use of enhancing agents or psychotropic medication on attitudes toward enhancement was also examined. Results: Ethical concerns were greater for enhancement than for prescribed usage. Competitive framing affected attitudes under the enhancement but not the treatment conditions. Participants who have used prescribed medications for either enhancement or therapeutic reasons often had more generally positive attitudes toward enhancer use.