From the party to the therapy – MDMA as an alternative for the existing methods of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder treatment
Current Problems of Psychiatry September 22, 2023 Wiktoria Bojarska, Karolina Bury, Radosław Januszczak et al.
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reduces symptoms more than placebo or current standard treatment, with improvements in well-being, nightmares, sleep, self-perception, and relationships lasting at least 12 months after treatment ends. MDMA also lessens symptoms of co-occurring disorders such as eating disorders and reduces alcohol consumption without increasing risk of substance abuse. Side effects are less serious and less frequent than those of SSRIs. The treatment helps patients revisit traumatic events without negative symptoms. These observations indicate MDMA-assisted psychotherapy is a promising alternative, especially for severe or treatment-resistant PTSD.