Novel psychopharmacological therapies for psychiatric disorders: psilocybin and MDMA.
Michael C Mithoefer, Charles S Grob, Timothy D Brewerton
Lancet Psychiatry April 5, 2016 DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(15)00576-3 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractPsilocybin and MDMA, known for their illegal use as psychedelic drugs, are showing promise as therapeutics in a resurgence of clinical research over the past 10 years. Psilocybin is being tested for alcoholism, smoking cessation, and anxiety in patients with advanced cancer. MDMA shows encouraging results as a treatment for refractory post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety in autistic adults, and anxiety associated with a life-threatening illness. Both drugs are studied as adjuncts or catalysts to psychotherapy, not as stand-alone treatments. This model offers a possible alternative to existing pharmacological and psychological treatments, though further research is needed.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psychedelic-assisted therapy PTSD |
| Keywords | Psychedelic-assisted treatment Psilocybin therapy MDMA Therapy Entheogenic medicine |
| Citations | 237 |
| Key finding | Psilocybin and MDMA show promise as therapeutics for several difficult-to-treat conditions when used as adjuncts to psychotherapy. |
Abstract
4-phosphorloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (psilocybin) and methylenedioxymethamfetamine (MDMA), best known for their illegal use as psychedelic drugs, are showing promise as therapeutics in a resurgence of clinical research during the past 10 years. Psilocybin is being tested for alcoholism, smoking cessation, and in patients with advanced cancer with anxiety. MDMA is showing encouraging results as a treatment for refractory post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety in autistic adults, and anxiety associated with a life-threatening illness. Both drugs are studied as adjuncts or catalysts to psychotherapy, rather than as stand-alone drug treatments. This model of drug-assisted psychotherapy is a possible alternative to existing pharmacological and psychological treatments in psychiatry. Further research is needed to fully assess the potential of these compounds in the management of these common disorders that are difficult to treat with existing methods.