by Kathleen Castner
MDMA, a substance found in Molly, completed a clinical trial that proved it was a viable treatment for subjects suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
MDMA, a substance found in the illegal drugs known as Molly or Ecstasy, has recently made headlines. A study that was funded by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies showed that MDMA assisted-therapy brought relief to those suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
The Phase 3 trial enrolled 90 people who were dealing with psychological and emotional damage due to sexual assault, war, crime, or other traumas. Half underwent MDMA treatment and talk therapy while the other half received talk therapy and a placebo. Moreover, the talk therapy component consisted of three, eight-hour sessions where subjects spoke through their painful past with therapists. Two months after treatment, the subjects were assessed. 67 percent of participants in the MDMA group no longer qualified for a diagnosis of PTSD, compared with 32 percent in the placebo group.
Why does MDMA treatment work? It works by binding to proteins that regulate serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for mood. Many antidepressants utilize the same mechanism. However, MDMA takes this process further, causing the proteins to pump serotonin into synapses, the area between neurons. This strengthens their chemical signal. MDMA also elevates levels of oxytocin, dopamine and other chemical messengers, producing feelings of happiness and trust. Additionally, MDMA has an ability to reopen what neuroscientists refer to as a “critical period,” the window during childhood when the brain has the superior ability to make memories and store them. A study in Nature in 2019 indicated that MDMA may return the adult brain to this earlier state of malleability which would explain this phenomenon.
MDMA’s therapeutic value was first noted in the 1970s. But, during that period, people started abusing it. This drug was colloquially called Molly or Ecstasy, and was later criminalized. Molly or Ecstasy may contain MDMA, however, it also contains other dangerous substances. Lab studies have proven that purified MDMA is safe for humans when taken in limited, controlled doses.
In order to become an approved treatment by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a second Phase 3 trial must be conducted. This secondary trial has already been approved by the FDA and is set to begin in 2022. This means that MDMA could be a PTSD treatment option for the American public as early as 2023.
It is important to note the shortcomings of this treatment. MDMA has to be taken in conjunction with talk therapy or else the brain won’t properly heal. MDMA by itself would be more of a “band-aid”, though researchers want it to be a permanent fix.
Previously, MDMA has shown beneficial in treating other disorders such as substance abuse, obsessive compulsive disorder, and eating disorders. In 2019, there was a study conducted that looked at the potential effects of MDMA on subjects with alcohol use disorder. Subjects received 187.5 mg of MDMA two times over an eight week span. At nine months post detox, the average units of alcohol consumption by participants were 18.7 units per week compared to 130.6 units per week before the detox. Moreover, no participants showed adverse reactions to the drug. There are other studies like this that are either in progress or have been completed, and all of them have shown successful results thus far.
The participants of the initial “MDMA-assisted psychotherapy” Phase 3 trial shared success stories all around. This is hopeful news for this new and exciting treatment.
Sources
1. Multidisciplinary Association For Psychedelic Studies. 2o21. MDMA-Assisted Therapy Study Protocols. https://maps.org/research/mdma
2. Nuwer, Rachel. (2021, May). A Psychedelic Drug Passes a Big Test for PTSD Treatment. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/03/health/mdma-approval.html
3. Sessa, B., Sakal, C., O’Brien, S., et al. (2019, July). First study of safety and tolerability of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy in patients with alcohol use disorder: preliminary data on the first four participants. BMJ Case Reports. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2019-230109
4. Thal, S.B., Lommen, M.J.J. (2018, January). Current Perspective on MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 48, 99–108. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-017-9379-2
5. MDMA Therapy Gaining Popularity as PTSD Treatment. (n.d). [Picture]. [MDMA chemical makeup]. https://www.military.com/benefits/veterans-health-care/ptsd/mdma-therapy-gaining-popularity-ptsd-treatment.html