MDMA-assisted therapy can assist significantly reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in people, a latest study has found.

As a part of the recent study, which was published within the journal Nature Medicine, researchers reviewed the effectiveness of safety, and tolerability of three,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) in treating individuals with moderate to severe PTSD, in comparison with using a placebo.

The study was conducted across thirteen sites, with eleven of them situated in the US and two in Israel. It adhered to international ethical and clinical guidelines, with an independent committee supervising the method to make sure the protection of participants and adequate sample size.

A complete of 324 individuals were screened for the current study from August 2020 to May 2022, with 104 out of 121 chosen participants proceeding to randomization. These individuals were then randomly divided into two equal groups receiving either MDMA-assisted therapy or a placebo.

The participants were adults aged 18 and older with a Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5) severity rating of 28 or higher, indicating a moderate or more severe PTSD condition. They were asked to discontinue all psychiatric medications before participating within the study to forestall potential interactions.

Independent assessors, who weren’t informed of the study’s specific details, assessed the severity of PTSD within the participants using the CAPS-5 evaluation. To stop bias, a unique assessor evaluated each participant on each occasion.

The trial included a complete of three preparation sessions, after which participants received either MDMA-AT or the placebo combined with therapy for over three months. In three 8-hour dosing sessions — one every month — the participants were administered various doses of MDMA or placebo. The participants engaged in three 90-minute integration sessions to assist process their experiences after each dosing session.

In the long run, 94 participants representing a various group of gender and ethnicity successfully accomplished the study. Notably, 71.2% were identified as female at birth with 33.7% identified as non-White, and 26.9% as Hispanic or Latino. The participants had been battling issues related to PTSD for a mean of 16.2 years.

The outcomes of the study showed that MDMA-AT significantly reduced PTSD symptoms in participants and likewise had positive effects on functional impairment, especially concerning family, social, and skilled facets of their lives.

The end result of the study further revealed that 86.5% within the MDMA-AT group showed substantial improvement. By the tip of the study, 71.2% of MDMA-AT participants now not matched the standards for PTSD, in comparison with 47.6% within the placebo group.

In accordance with the American Psychiatric Association, PTSD affects roughly 3.5% of adults within the U.S. every 12 months. It’s estimated that one in 11 individuals can be diagnosed with PTSD of their lifetime. PTSD can affect anyone, no matter their ethnicity, nationality, cultural background, or age.

Published by Medicaldaily.com