3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) - Assisted psychotherapy for treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: Literature review

Objectives. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe psychiatric disorder with disabling potential and a chronic course. It occurs in some people due to exposure to specific traumatic events or threats of death, serious injury, or sexual violence. Currently, psychotherapy is accepted as one of the most effective methods for treating PTSD. Incomplete clinical responses, as well as frequent relapses, indicate the need to explore alternative therapies, one of which is the combination of psychotherapy with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), noted for its potentially beneficial effects. Methods. This paper is a literature review that examines several scientific articles evaluating the adjuvant effect of MDMA in combination with psychotherapy for the treatment of PTSD. The included studies were selected following systematic searches conducted on the PubMed online database. A total of 33 scientific articles were included. Results. The selected studies can generally be divided into two main areas based on objectives: studies assessing whether MDMA adjuvant psychotherapy is useful in PTSD and studies investigating the mechanisms by which MDMA can be integrated with psychotherapy in the treatment of this condition. Conclusions. Our results on the potential therapeutic effect of MDMA, particularly in combination with psychotherapy, raise several controversies, limitations, and opportunities. The small number of studies in advanced stages, along with the significant addictive potential of the substance and the current controversies surrounding its use for therapeutic purposes, currently limit this therapeutic option. However, given that studies are ongoing, the potential benefits of combining psychotherapy with MDMA could become a valid and frequently used treatment option in the future.