Making a medicine out of MDMA.
The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science 2015 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.152751 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psychedelic-assisted therapy MDMA |
| Keywords | MDMA Therapy MDMA Treatment Ecstasy therapy MDMA Medical Use MDMA Healing Drug policy reform MDMA Rescheduling Therapeutic drug reclassification Medical drug policy Mental health treatment Psychiatric care PTSD Therapy Mental wellness Healing mental illness |
| Citations | 36 |
| Key findings | There is enough evidence for MDMA to be removed from its Schedule 1 status of 'no medical use' and moved into Schedule 2, enabling its use as a medicine for severe mental illnesses like treatment-resistant PTSD. |
Abstract
From its first use 3,4,-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has been recognised as a drug with therapeutic potential. Research on its clinical utility stopped when it entered the recreational drug scene but has slowly resurrected in the past decade. Currently there is enough evidence for MDMA to be removed from its Schedule 1 status of 'no medical use' and moved into Schedule 2 (alongside other misused but useful medicines such as heroin and amphetamine). Such a regulatory move would liberate its use as a medicine for patients experiencing severe mental illnesses such as treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder.