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An approach to treating post-traumatic stress disorder with MDMA emphasizes supervision from specially trained therapists.
MULTIDISCIPLINARY ASSOCIATION FOR PSYCHEDELIC STUDIES
A psychedelic drug may help treat PTSD. But questions remain on how best to use—and regulate—it
May. 19, 2021 , 12:00 PM
The news last week that the compound 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. “This is really kind of a new zeitgeist in psychiatry,” says Barbara Rothbaum, a clinical psychologist at Emory University.