New research adds to the evidence that ecstasy can enhance the usefulness of talk therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients.
In a clinical trial, researchers discovered that three months of talk therapy supplemented with carefully monitored doses of ecstasy (MDMA) was substantially more effective than therapy alone.
Out of the 52 patients who completed MDMA-assisted therapy, about 87% were considered responders. That meant they experienced significant reductions in recurring nightmares, flashbacks, debilitating anxiety, and other PTSD symptoms.
At the conclusion of the research, 71% no longer qualified for a PTSD diagnosis. Compared to the 48% rate among the 42 patients who received talk therapy plus a placebo.
The findings, which appeared in the journal Nature Medicine, provide additional evidence that MDMA-assisted therapy is a genuine treatment for PTSD, according to experts.
