Researchers Look to Ecstasy as PTSD Therapy Option
Psychiatric News October 1, 2010 Aaron Levin
In a small phase 2 pilot study, MDMA (ecstasy) used as an adjunct to psychotherapy reduced PTSD symptoms more than placebo in patients with chronic, treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder. Clinical response—a greater than 30 percent reduction on the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale—occurred in 83 percent of those who took MDMA compared with 25 percent of those given placebo. The drug helped patients process traumatic memories without becoming overwhelmed. After an average of 3.5 years, some patients had relapsed but the majority had not. The authors emphasize the drug is not a magic bullet but a catalyst in the right therapeutic setting.