3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), commonly known as ecstasy, alleviated post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a phase 3 trial and was a milestone in the efforts to turn psychedelic drugs into mainstream treatments. 67% of the 42 people who got MDMA no longer met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, while 32% were for the placebo group.
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), popularly called ecstasy, alleviated post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a phase 3 trial was a milestone in efforts to turn psychedelic drugs into mainstream treatments. It also highlighted a therapeutic marriage that is getting increasing attention: providing a mind-altering drug while a patient receives care from a trained therapist.
Of 42 people who got MDMA, 67% no longer met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD 2 months after their last experimental session. For the placebo group, that rate was 32%. Improvements in the placebo recipients were comparable to those observed in studies of existing approaches such as exposure therapy.