News Brief: MDMA therapy for PTSD.
AJN American Journal of Nursing November 21, 2023 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1097/01.naj.0000997172.65282.23 via OpenAlex
Summary
MDMA-assisted therapy has been shown to significantly reduce symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a randomized controlled trial with 104 participants. Those receiving MDMA therapy had better outcomes, with 71% no longer meeting PTSD criteria compared to 48% in the placebo group. This evidence suggests that MDMA may be a safe and effective treatment for moderate to severe PTSD, potentially leading to FDA approval in 2024.
Study at a glance
| Design | randomized controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 104 |
| Population | people with moderate to severe PTSD |
| Key finding | MDMA-assisted therapy resulted in 71% of participants no longer meeting PTSD criteria, compared to 48% in the placebo group. |
Abstract
MDMA therapy for PTSD. Those suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may have a new treatment option—psychedelic therapy. In a confirmatory randomized controlled trial with 104 participants, researchers found that 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted therapy reduced symptoms and functional impairment in people with moderate to severe PTSD. Their findings add to a growing body of evidence that MDMA, commonly known as Ecstasy or Molly, is a safe and effective treatment for PTSD. Participants who received MDMA had significantly better outcomes than those who received placebo, with 71% no longer meeting criteria for a PTSD diagnosis compared with 48% in the placebo group. MDMA was used in psychotherapy until 1985 when the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration designated it a Schedule 1 drug, making its distribution and use illegal. That may change soon. According to the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, with the results of this and preceding studies, “MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD is on track to be considered for approval by the FDA in 2024.”