A study has found that the psychedelic drug MDMA, combined with talk therapy, can reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

The psychedelic drug MDMA can reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, researchers reported in a new study published Thursday.

The company sponsoring the research said it plans later this year to seek U.S. approval to market the drug, also known as ecstasy, as a PTSD treatment when combined with talk therapy.

“It’s the first innovation in PTSD treatment in more than two decades. And it’s significant because I think it will also open up other innovation,” said Amy Emerson, CEO of MAPS Public Benefit Corporation, the research sponsor.

  • qooqie@lemmy.world
    101·
    1 year ago

    So imma explain some shit maybe poorly with what’s been happening in the psychiatric world.

    Recently some huge studies have been published showing that what’s really going on in depression or anxiety isn’t neurotransmitter related it’s synapse related. Let me explain. As you go from being a baby to being 25 years old your brain goes from roughly 200M neurons to 100M neurons. Tf how do you not get stupider?? Well bitches it’s because of something called synaptic pruning. This reinforces the good synapses and eliminates useless synapses/neurons. Okay with all that being said for every neuron in your brain you have ~1000 synapses if you’re healthy. In depression or anxiety you have ~500. So they’ve found by stimulating synapses regeneration you can effectively treat depression from its root biological cause. A drug called Auvelity which is extremely new does this and it’s fucking amazingly effective. I’m talking like a week until you’re feeling better.

    Now with all that being said, I’m betting the reason these psychedelics work as treatment is because they stimulate axonal regeneration. But they have the side effect of tripping tf out which can backfire and cause retraumatization.

    I hope this makes sense or is cool to others, because it’s fucking awesome to me. Tons of people are about to get waaaaay better mentally because of this research.

    • fear@kbin.social
      3·
      1 year ago

      Just to add to your point: in PTSD your brain will prioritize certain synapses over others that may help you survive through the trauma, but will result in a continued focus on the trauma after the event has passed. So those ~500 synapses in depressive PTSD aren’t just lower than a healthy brain, but they’re also the wrong synapses for your current situation. Psychedelics can help you develop new synapses that are more relevant to your current life. As someone who experienced this therapy, it’s amazing how quickly it can happen, too. It’s a total game changer and should be available to anyone who wants to try it.

      • qooqie@lemmy.world
        1·
        1 year ago

        It’s very true. I’ve been seeing people get these drug samples for Auvelity (because it’s expensive af right now being so new and all) and they get much better in a week and then sooooo much better after 2 months that you can take them off Auvelity. I’m super excited for everyone to get better

    • egonallanon@lemm.ee
      1·
      1 year ago

      So all these years of rampant drug abuse have been good for me? Take THAT stupid school drug training.

      • qooqie@lemmy.world
        1·
        1 year ago

        I’m not taking it I’ve seen patients take it and report how effective it is. It’s a new game changing drug combo great that we have to be picky about words. I’m confident that this is the new sertraline where everyone will be prescribed this in a few years. I learned how this drug works from a very high accolade psychiatrist so I trust him on it. And as I said at the end of my post I’m pretty sure neurogenesis is the reason these psychedelics work, but people aren’t fast tracking them because of potential for abuse and for potential of retraumatisation or worsening of other symptoms. So I’m not bashing psychedelics, just trying to offer to people a possible explanation for why these recreational drugs are working