Introduction:
PTSD is a widespread, devastating illness that impacts a lot of individuals yearly and has enormous social and financial effects. The onset and duration of PTSD are influenced by a variety of risk factors, and poor treatment prognosis for PTSD are linked to numerous illnesses, such as dissociation, depression, anxiety, alcohol and substance abuse disorders, and childhood trauma. Thus, it is vital to identify a therapy that works for patients with multiple medical conditions, which frequently leads to rejection of treatment.
What Is Post-traumatic Stress Disorder?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an illness that can arise in certain individuals who have endured an upsetting, frightening, or harmful experience.
Fear is a typical response to and aftermath of a stressful situation. Fear, the body's defensive or flight response, is an emotion that aids in the recovery from or avoidance of stressful situations. Following a traumatic experience, people may react in a variety of ways, with the majority eventually recovering from the initial symptoms. People with ongoing concerns may be diagnosed with PTSD.
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has approved Paroxetine and Sertraline as primary therapies for PTSD. These medications are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). More than half of those who are administered these drugs fail to feel better after taking them. Psychotherapies that include extended exposure and mental health care can cause symptoms to persist or no improvement at all, and many people withdraw from treatment. Psychotherapy is the most widely used and standard therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder.
MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) has a stimulating impact, changes perception and time, and heightens the pleasure of sensory stimuli. It is sometimes referred to as an entactogen, which is a medication that raises sensitivity and awareness of oneself. It belongs to a more broad class of compounds known as phenethylamines. This group of drugs is well-known for their stimulating and hallucinogenic (shifted states of awareness marked by profound shifts in thinking, state of mind, and perception) features. This category also includes the substances methamphetamine and cathinone. Researchers are looking into the possible use of MDMA as a treatment for severe PTSD. Researchers are conducting several researches to rule out the potential use of MDMA in the treatment of PTSD.
What Are the Types of PTSD?
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Acute Stress Disorder (ASD): Acute stress disorder can be diagnosed as soon as a trauma occurs. However, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is usually diagnosed four weeks after a trauma. Individuals with ASD are more likely to get PTSD, but they may be able to avoid PTSD if they receive the proper treatment.
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Simple PTSD: Simple PTSD is a type of PTSD that manifests itself in the absence of any other mental health conditions, which include anxiety or depression.
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Complex PTSD (C-PTSD): C-PTSD is typically a consequence of a long-term painful experience, such as childhood abuse. While the course of therapy for C-PTSD may be similar to that for different kinds of PTSD, recovery may take longer.
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Dissociative PTSD: People who have dissociative PTSD can have the impression that the trauma is happening to them again. Those who suffer trauma early in life are more prone to encounter it.
What Is MDMA?
Methylenedioxy-methylamphetamine is referred to as MDMA. It is commonly known as Molly or Ecstasy. N-methyl-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)propan-2-amine is its chemical name.
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that alter brain activity in the brain cells. MDMA causes the release of these messengers. These include prolactin, cortisol, vasopressin, oxytocin, dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.
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Dopamine: When released, dopamine makes people feel positive or joyful and aids in the communication between nerve cells.
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Norepinephrine: Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter that helps control several bodily processes, including alertness, stress responses, focus span, and mental performance.
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Serotonin: The human body uses serotonin to transmit nerve impulses. It contributes to the production of joy, happiness, and positivity.
MDMA can induce sensations of:
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Compassion.
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Self-knowledge.
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Sensual enjoyment.
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Greater energy.
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Reduced anxiety.
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Capacity to communicate honestly about feelings.
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Variations in the perception of space and time.
According to health specialists, these sensations may provide a desirable setting for PTSD patients to voice their negative feelings, engage in deeper reflection, and process the experiences that may have initially caused their condition to develop.
How Can MDMA Be of Use in Severe PTSD?
PTSD arises in response to a catastrophic occurrence, such as a big accident, sexual abuse or assault, physical assault, or armed conflict. Some people may experience nightmares or flashbacks that trigger painful memories. Suicide can also be caused by severe post-traumatic stress disorder.
Researchers have discovered that giving individuals with PTSD a specific dosage of MDMA as a therapy encourages individuals to open up and process painful incidents. Due to its past as a pleasure-seeking substance with a possibility for abuse, dependency, and injury, MDMA itself is not permitted for usage.
MDMA treatment takes time to be effective. One may require two to three sessions in 12 weeks. Individuals will be given information by the physician about the procedure, what to anticipate, and how to get ready for the procedure.
During the procedure, the physician will give a tablet of dose 125 milligrams to the affected individual, and it has to be swallowed. The drug will take about 45 minutes to start working. The effect of the drug will last for eight hours, which will give adequate time for the individual to go over the process.
People with a dissociative type of PTSD showed a reduction of symptoms when treated with MDMA than those with a non-dissociative type. However, further research is required to confirm the effectiveness of MDMA in treating PTSD.
What Are the Adverse Effects of MDMA-Assisted Treatment?
The more common adverse events in MDMA-assisted therapy are usually mild to moderate in severity, temporary, and comprise muscle tightness, a lack of appetite, nausea, excessive sweating, and feeling cold.
Conclusion:
Even in patients with severe PTSD and related comorbidities such as dissociative post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, previous history of alcohol and drug use illnesses, and childhood trauma, MDMA-assisted therapy promotes an early commencement of treatment success. It is critical to investigate MDMA-assisted therapy for use in clinical settings since it has the potential to drastically change PTSD treatment when compared to traditional pharmacological and behavioral therapies.
