[MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD].

MDMA, when used as part of psychotherapy, shows promise as a novel treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The treatment typically involves preparatory sessions, two or three sessions where one or two oral doses of MDMA are given alongside supportive psychotherapy with two therapists for about eight hours each, and up to nine integrative sessions. This approach is proposed to reduce psychological distress during trauma processing and lower dropout risk. Recent studies indicate that MDMA-assisted psychotherapy reduces PTSD symptoms and is generally well tolerated. New effective treatments for PTSD are urgently needed, along with comparisons to currently approved psychotherapies with and without MDMA.

Study at a glance

Abstract

MDMA is a potential novel treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Our goal is to review current knowledge on MDMA and its use in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. Literature searches were done on PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar and references reviewed in identified articles. MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD usually consists of a few preparatory sessions before two or three sessions where one or two oral doses of MDMA are given along with supportive psychotherapy. The therapy is delivered in the presence of two therapists for about eight hours each time. In addition, the patient receives up to 9 integrative sessions in due course. This use of MDMA as a part of psychotherapy for PTSD is proposed to lessen the psychological distress that often arises in the processing of traumatic events to facilitate the treatment process and reduce the risk of drop-out. Recent studies indicate that MDMA-assisted psychotherapy reduces PTSD symptoms and is generally well tolerated. These studies are necessary if this MDMA-assisted treatment is to be approved by licensing authorities. There is an urgent need for new effective treatments for PTSD and for comparisons between this MDMA-assisted psychotherapy and currently approved psychotherapies with and without MDMA-use.