this post was submitted on 21 Jun 2024
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Some 13 million Americans struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Existing therapies only bring relief for a fraction of patients, and new treatments are sorely needed, according to psychiatrists wrestling with the scale of the problem. So, there was distinct disappointment when an advisory committee at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted earlier this month against a therapy that many had hoped could offer the first new treatment for PTSD in 25 years.

A number of experts who study psychedelics have since spoken out in support of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD and have sharply criticised the recommendations of the FDA's Psychopharmacological Drugs Advisory Committee. But some are still optimistic that the treatment might be approved when the FDA delivers its final decision in August.

Ahead of the meeting, FDA approval of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD seemed likely, says Sandeep Nayak, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University, who investigates psychedelics as treatments for substance use and mood disorders. About two-thirds of people who received three sessions of MDMA and talk therapy no longer qualified for a PTSD diagnosis at the end of two Phase 3 clinical trials.

It's an outcome that is "almost double that of existing medications", says Gül Dölen, a neuroscientist at the University of California, Berkeley, who researches the mechanisms of how psychedelics achieve therapeutic effects. "What's more, [the treatment] led to durable improvements in these patients lasting at least six months."

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[–] Fondots@lemmy.world 15 points 5 months ago (2 children)

As a child on a taco commercial once said

¿Por qué no los dos?

Both show promise though need further research to determine how they should be used most effectively and safely, they have similar legal hurdles, and different patients may respond better to one, the other, or possibly even a combination of both,

[–] You999@sh.itjust.works -2 points 5 months ago

As much as I hate to say this, MDMA being used for treatment of mental illnesses might not be viable option because of it's negative effects. I do not know if short term severe depression and long term memory loss is worth a reduction in PTSD. Maybe as a last resort medication similar to how methamphetamine is prescribed for drug resistant ADHD.

[–] Varyk@sh.itjust.works -5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

As I said, there's no reason why not two.

Similarly, there's no reason to make people wait for a potential mdma medication while psilocybin is available, effective against the exact same symptoms, perfectly safe and has a simpler therapy regimen.

[–] girlfreddy@lemmy.ca 7 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Because not everyone is exactly the same. Different experiences, different histories, different types of injuries/traumas means different methods of treatment.

Yes psilocybin is good. But it may not be for everyone.

[–] Varyk@sh.itjust.works -4 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Nobody argued everyone's the same.

All of the arguments that are put forth for using MDMA to treat PTSD symptoms already work for over 80% of patients using a single treatment of psilocybin that is already available.

Go ahead and research MDMA, but don't deny people an available, effective, safe and simple treatment while we wait for the development of experimental therapies.

[–] treefrog@lemm.ee 6 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Again you're spouting statistics with no scientific evidence to support them. I remember that study you linked with the 80%. That rate was not for PTSD but other chronic mental health conditions being treated with psilocybin.

Your claims have no evidence to support them so please stop. Because you're not helping.