Current Perspective on MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

ABSTRACT: The present paper discusses the current literature with regard to substance-assisted psychotherapy with Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The aim of the paper is to give a comprehensive overview of the development from MDMA's early application in psychotherapy to its present and future role in the treatment of PTSD. It is further attempted to increase the attention for MDMA's therapeutic potential by providing a thorough depiction of the scientific evidence regarding its theorized mechanism of action and potential harms of its application in the clinical setting (e.g., misattribution of therapeutic gains to medication instead of psychological changes). Empirical support for the use of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, including the randomized, double

SUBMITTER: Thal SB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5917000 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature