Psychoactive Drugs in the Management of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Promising New Horizon
Kawther N Elsouri, Sahand Kalhori, Diego Colunge, Grant Grabarczyk, George Hanna, Cassidy Carrasco, Andy Aleman Espino, Andrés de Francisco, Bradley Borosky, Bassem Bekheit, Maha Ighanifard, Andrea A Astudillo, Michelle Demory Beckler
Cureus May 23, 2022 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.25235 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can follow traumatic events, from burglary to genocide. Current treatments rely on psychotherapy and conventional medications, but psychoactive drugs—MDMA, ketamine, and psilocybin—are being investigated for their ability to reduce fear and anxiety in the brain. These drugs show promise for patients with treatment-resistant PTSD. Historically, restrictive laws limited research due to concerns about harm, but shifting public opinion has spurred new studies. This article reviews how these three substances work in the PTSD brain and their potential therapeutic benefits.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Anxiety MDMA Psilocybin PTSD |
| Keywords | Medicine Psychiatry |
| Citations | 15 |
| Key finding | MDMA, ketamine, and psilocybin target fear and anxiety pathways in the brain, offering potential benefits for treatment-resistant PTSD. |
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that often presents after exposure to a traumatic, life-threatening event. Experiencing a traumatic event is not rare, with inciting incidents ranging from being burglarized to politically motivated genocide. While traditional psychopharmacology and psychotherapy are the mainstays of the treatment of PTSD currently, psychoactive drugs (otherwise known as psychedelics) are being explored for their novel role in the treatment of PTSD patients. Psychoactive drugs such as MDMA, ketamine, and psilocybin have been shown to specifically target and decrease fear and anxiety pathways in the brain. These unique properties hold the potential to be utilized in addressing symptoms of trauma in those with refractory or treatment-resistant PTSD. Historically, federal and state laws have restricted research into how psychoactive drugs can be used to treat mental illness due to the widespread belief that these drugs present more harm than benefit. However, the current shift in public opinion on psychedelics has propelled research to look into the benefits of these drugs for patients with mental illness. This article aims to discuss the mechanisms of how MDMA, ketamine, and psilocybin work in the PTSD brain, as well as their beneficial role in treatment.