MDMA Demonstrates Efficacy in Alleviating PTSD Symptoms, Clearing Path for Potential U.S. Authorization

The psychoactive substance MDMA has shown promise in mitigating the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a recent study released on Thursday.

The firm underwriting the study, MAPS Public Benefit Corporation, disclosed its intention to submit an application for the U.S. approval of MDMA—commonly referred to as ecstasy—as a treatment for PTSD in conjunction with psychotherapy later this year.

Amy Emerson, the CEO of MAPS Public Benefit Corporation, noted that this constitutes the first significant advancement in PTSD therapies in over twenty years. She further elaborated that this could catalyze additional innovation in the field.

Earlier this year, Australia set a precedent by becoming the first nation to permit the prescription of MDMA and psilocybin, the active component in psychedelic mushrooms. The drugs have been receiving increased societal endorsement in the United States, partly fueled by the advocacy efforts of the nonprofit organization, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies.

In this recent study, 104 individuals diagnosed with PTSD were randomly selected to either receive MDMA or a placebo over the course of three sessions spaced one month apart. All participants also underwent talk therapy. Adverse effects observed among those administered MDMA included muscle stiffness, nausea, diminished appetite, and perspiration. Only a single participant in the MDMA group opted to withdraw from the study.

Upon completion of the treatment, a substantial 86% of those in the MDMA group exhibited improvement as per a conventional PTSD assessment, in contrast to 69% in the placebo group. The assessment gauged symptoms such as insomnia, flashbacks, and nightmares. By the culmination of the study, approximately 72% of the MDMA recipients no longer fulfilled the criteria for PTSD diagnosis, as opposed to around 48% in the placebo group.

Barbara Rothbaum, Director of the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program in Atlanta, who was not a participant in the research, described the results as highly encouraging. The study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Medicine.

Although PTSD can also be managed through other pharmaceuticals and psychotherapy, Rothbaum emphasized that existing treatments are not universally effective, underscoring the necessity for more diverse treatment options.

For MDMA to be legally prescribed within the United States, it must first receive authorization from the Food and Drug Administration and undergo reclassification by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Currently, MDMA is listed as a Schedule 1 substance, equated with heroin and considered to have “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”

The Health and Science Department of The Big Big News is financially backed by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The Associated Press maintains exclusive responsibility for all published content.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about MDMA and PTSD treatment

More about MDMA and PTSD treatment

• Nature Medicine Journal
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• Drug Enforcement Administration
• MAPS Public Benefit Corporation
• Emory Healthcare Veterans Program
• Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
• Overview of PTSD Treatments
• Australian Medical Association on MDMA and Psilocybin