TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2023//
TI  - MDMA-based psychotherapy in treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): a brief narrative overview of current evidence
JO  - Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)
A1  - Riaz, Kainat
A1  - Suneel, Sejal
A1  - Hamza Bin Abdul Malik, Mohammad
A1  - Kashif, Tooba
A1  - Ullah, Irfan
A1  - Waris, Abdul
A1  - Di Nicola, Marco
A1  - Mazza, Marianna
A1  - Sani, Gabriele
A1  - Martinotti, Giovanni
A1  - De Berardis, Domenico
SP  - e159
EP  - e159
VL  - 11
IS  - 4
N2  - Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental health disorder that causes significant dysfunction in individuals. Currently, there are many approved pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy treatment options for PTSD, but unfortunately, half of the patients do not respond to traditional therapies. In this article, we review clinical trials and research on 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy in PTSD patients, its pharmacokinetics, and current treatment guidelines for PTSD. Our findings are based on the results of the efficacy of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy from six phase II randomized controlled trials. MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD has received the "breakthrough therapy" designation from the FDA. MDMA can reduce PTSD symptoms even in treatment-resistant cases by increasing certain neurohormones, i.e., dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and oxytocin. It also modulates activities in the brain regions involved in fear and anxiety. Future research is needed to show whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages and whether its use can be integrated into available treatment options for PTSD.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 2079-9721
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/diseases11040159
ID  - ref1
ER  -