MDMA-Based Psychotherapy in Treatment-Resistant Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Brief Narrative Overview of Current Evidence
Diseases November 3, 2023 Kainat Riaz, Sejal Suneel, Mohammad Hamza Bin Abdul Malik et al. 16 citations
Half of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) do not respond to traditional therapies. A review of six phase II randomized controlled trials indicates that MDMA-assisted psychotherapy can reduce PTSD symptoms even in treatment-resistant cases. MDMA appears to work by increasing neurohormones such as dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and oxytocin, and by modulating brain regions involved in fear and anxiety. The FDA has granted MDMA-assisted psychotherapy a "breakthrough therapy" designation. Further research is needed to determine whether the benefits outweigh the risks and how it might fit into existing PTSD treatment options.