Psicoterapia auxiliada por MDMA como tratamento do transtorno de estresse pós-traumático
January 1, 2022 Davi Mello Castanheira, Torrão, Andréa da Silva
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) involves revisiting a traumatic event through memories, dreams, or dissociative flashbacks. Psychotherapy is the first-line treatment, often combined with SSRIs such as paroxetine and sertraline. Studies of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy have shown promising results, with phase 3 trials underway. MDMA increases empathy and trust, allowing patients to reprocess traumatic memories and build a stronger therapeutic alliance. After just 2 or 3 administrations, MDMA-assisted psychotherapy proved safe and effective in reducing PTSD symptoms, with long-term remission and significant reductions in CAPS-5 scores. Despite challenges in understanding PTSD's pathophysiology, this treatment has the potential to help many patients.