Uso terapêutico de mdma na psicoterapia assistida para o tratamento de transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (tept)
January 1, 2022 Amanda Medeiros Furquim, Tânia Marcourakis
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a neuropsychiatric condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, affecting over 8 million Americans and costing the US about $43.2 billion annually. Current treatments—antidepressants with limited efficacy and trauma-focused psychotherapies—remain ineffective for many patients. MDMA, the primary ingredient in ecstasy, has gained FDA attention for promising results as an adjunct to psychotherapy. This narrative review examines MDMA-assisted psychotherapy's effectiveness for PTSD. Phase I and II studies show significantly higher efficacy and acceptable safety profiles compared to first-line treatments, leading to substantial reductions in PTSD symptoms and functional impairment. The review concludes that MDMA's unique pharmacological and psychological properties make it suitable as a psychotherapy adjunct, though research faces challenges.