use of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - review
Journal of Education Health and Sport August 15, 2023 Karol Womperski, Rafał Bogacz, Magdalena Gaik et al. 1 citation
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common condition that can develop after traumatic events such as accidents, war, abuse, or domestic violence. Current treatments, combining trauma-focused psychotherapy with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are often insufficient. This review of literature from 2000–2023 found that MDMA (ecstasy)-assisted therapy shows promising results for treating PTSD, with a satisfactory safety profile. The improvement likely stems from MDMA's effects on brain regions involved in threat detection and emotion processing. More research is needed, especially direct comparisons with SSRIs and long-term safety assessments.