Can ecstasy treat the agony of PTSD?
European Psychiatry March 1, 2016 M. Mithoefer
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy shows promise for treating PTSD in people who have not responded to established treatments. In a double-blind trial, PTSD resolved in 83% of those receiving MDMA plus psychotherapy versus 25% of those receiving placebo plus psychotherapy. Improvement was maintained for at least 74% of subjects at long-term follow-up averaging 45 months later. A later unpublished trial found large reductions in PTSD symptoms for both high and medium doses of MDMA. Phase III trials are needed to confirm safety and efficacy.