2023-09-20 11:00:00
The designer drug MDMA might help people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. A new study, carried out by the American organization Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and published in Nature Medicinein fact shows that the active ingredient in ecstasy helps relieve the symptoms of anxiety disorder.
MDMA: 72% of patients no longer met criteria for PTSD
For this phase 3 study on MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), researchers brought together 104 people suffering from this condition. The latter randomly received the psychostimulant molecule or a placebo during three sessions, spaced one month apart. In addition, each patient received talking therapy. The results revealed that flashbacks, nightmares and insomnia were reduced for 86% of patients taking MDMA, compared to 69% in the placebo group. At the end of these trials, 72% of volunteers who had taken the drug, also called ecstasy, no longer met the criteria for PTSD. There were only 48% in the control group. According to researchers, some people who took MDMA experienced some side effects, such as nausea, sweating, muscle twitching and decreased appetite.
MDMA and mental health: towards approval in the USA
Faced with these promising results, MAPS hopes to soon be able to obtain the green light from the American health authorities for MDMA therapy for post-traumatic syndromes. In a communiquéthe founder and president of the organization that studies the “cautious” use of psychedelics, Rick Doblin, says: “Thanks to the combined efforts of dozens of therapists, hundreds of volunteer participants in MAPS-sponsored trials, and several thousand generous donors, MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder is well on its way to being considered for FDA approval in 2024.”
This is not the first time that scientists have evaluated the use of narcotics to treat mental disorders. This year, Australia allowed its psychiatrists to prescribe MDMA and psilocybin, the psychoactive ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms, to their patients suffering from depression or PTSD.
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