Therapeutic role of psilocybin and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine in trauma: A literature review
World Journal of Psychiatry May 19, 2023 Lakshan N Fonseka, Benjamin K.p. Woo 12 citations
Psilocybin and MDMA, designated breakthrough therapies by the FDA in 2017 for post-traumatic stress disorder and treatment-resistant depression, are being studied for rapid improvement in psychiatric conditions. Classic psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, and ayahuasca, along with non-classic drugs such as MDMA and ketamine, show potential for treating trauma and depressive disorders. This review focuses on psilocybin and MDMA in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), as they compose most of the literature. It discusses their current and future uses, emphasizing their role in trauma and related comorbidities, and suggests future research directions including wearables, standardized symptom scales, therapy styles, and adverse drug reaction assessment.