Analyse this: MDMA may soon be used in psychotherapy
In recent years, many studies have been published to show that the illegal drug MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine), also known as ecstasy, can have hugely beneficial, and importantly, permanent effects for those suffering from PTSD … [Those conducting the studies] stress that MDMA is not a be an end all cure; it is no magic pill, but rather a tool in a long process that allows people suffering from PTSD to begin to recover.
Current methods of treatment are Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Prolonged Exposure (PE). In CPT, the patient attends regular therapy, and attempts are made to change unhealthy and dysfunctional thought processes. PE involves facing whatever it is that has caused the PTSD, and attempts to desensitise the patient to allow them to live without fear. While both can work, the vast majority of those who undergo treatment find that the treatments do not cure them of PTSD. As well as CPT and PE, sufferers of PTSD usually undergo Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). The drugs available to these people only treat the symptoms of the condition, and are similar to drugs used to treat depression in that they increase the quantity of neurotransmitters relating to good mood in the brain.
Original Article (University Observer):
Analyse This: MDMA May Soon Be Used in Psychotherapy
Artwork Fair Use: Public Domain (2014)
