Will MDMA-assisted psychotherapy become a breakthrough in treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder? A critical narrative review.

Szafoni, Sandra; Więckiewicz, Gniewko; Pudło, Robert; Gorczyca, Piotr; Piegza, Magdalena

doi:10.12740/pp/onlinefirst/133919

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, most commonly referred to as MDMA or ecstasy, is a phenylethylamine that releases a large amount of serotonin into synaptic clefts approximately 60 min after oral ingestion, causing a sense of oneness with the world, increased empathy, and heightened sensations to audiovisual stimuli [60]. The effect of this compound is multifaceted, as it not only causes a sudden increase in serotonin, but also acts directly on the α2-adrenergic, serotonin, histamine, β-adrenergic, and dopamine D1 and D2 receptors, and alters the levels of prolactin, oxytocin, cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and vasopressin [61]. The recent phase III clinical trials confirmed the safety and high efficacy of MDMA in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder [62].…”

Section: 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (Mdma Ecstasy)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Medications for the Treatment of Alcohol Dependence—Current State of Knowledge and Future Perspectives from a Public Health Perspective

Stokłosa¹,

Więckiewicz²,

Stokłosa³

et al. 2023

IJERPH

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No single effective therapy for alcohol abuse has been found, despite it being a serious sociological and economic problem for hundreds of years. It seems difficult to find a single drug as a panacea for the alcohol problem due to the complexity of the pathophysiology of alcohol dependence. The purpose of this narrative review is to review existing and potentially future pharmaceuticals for the treatment of alcohol dependence in the most affordable way possible. Psychotherapy is the mainstay of treatment for alcoholism, while few drugs approved by legislators are available in the augmentation of this treatment, such as acamprosate, disulfiram, and naltrexone, approved by the FDA, and nalmefene by the EMA. There are recent reports in the literature on the possibility of using baclofen, topiramate, varenicline, and gabapentin in the treatment of alcohol dependence. Moreover, the results of recent clinical trials using psychoactive substances such as psilocybin and MDMA appear to be a breakthrough in the modern treatment of alcohol abuse. Despite this initial optimism, a lot of scientific effort is still needed before new pharmacological methods supporting the treatment of alcohol dependence syndrome will be widely available.

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Section: 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (Mdma Ecstasy)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Medications for the Treatment of Alcohol Dependence—Current State of Knowledge and Future Perspectives from a Public Health Perspective

Stokłosa¹,

Więckiewicz²,

Stokłosa³

et al. 2023

IJERPH

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“…However, that type of psychotherapy assistance is targeted exclusively at treatment-resistant patients with PTSD. The MAP approach is also intriguing from the standpoint of our paper because of the potential role of oxytocin in its effects [ 94 ]. The effectiveness of this approach is seen mainly in influencing the memory of extinction.…”

Section: Further Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Progress in Personalized Psychiatric Therapy with the Example of Using Intranasal Oxytocin in PTSD Treatment

Szafoni

Piegza

2022

JPM

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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe mental disorder that results in the frequent coexistence of other diseases, lowers patients’ quality of life, and has a high annual cost of treatment. However, despite the variety of therapeutic approaches that exist, some patients still do not achieve the desired results. In addition, we may soon face an increase in the number of new PTSD cases because of the current global situation—both the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing armed conflicts. Hence, in recent years, many publications have sought a new, more personalized treatment approach. One such approach is the administration of intranasal oxytocin (INOXT), which, due to its pleiotropic effects, seems to be a promising therapeutic option. However, the current findings suggest that it might only be helpful for a limited, strictly selected group of patients.

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“…Considering that for patients with other psychiatric conditions, an estimated past-year comorbidity circulates around 57.9% [8], and what is more, in many cases, especially in a warzone or during a migration crisis, the availability of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy might not always be present, there is a clear need for an effective, attainable, fast-acting and relatively safe medication. The history of using psychedelics, such as psylocybin, especially in a religious and magical context, dates back thousands of years ago [9], while others like MDMA were not synthesized until the first half of the 20th century [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychedelics as a treatment for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Marcinkowski,

Mazur,

Madera

et al. 2024

J Educ Health Sport

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Introduction and purpose: Post-traumatic stress disorder is a psychiatric condition following an extreme event that causes a near death of an involved individual. Since conventional treatments using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors do not consistently yield therapeutic success, alternative substances are being explored as potential solutions. This study aims to compile information regarding the outcomes of utilizing psychedelics in individuals diagnosed with PTSD. Brief description of the state of knowledge: In July 2023, after a number of clinical trials and 20-year-long efforts to overturn the impact of a prohibition, Australia became the first country to allow doctors, in clinical development and under strict control, to use the 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) commonly known as ecstasy, as well as psylocybin in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder or depression [8]. There is a noticeable annual growth of inquiries on PubMed involving the keywords "psychedelics" and "therapeutic", amounting to 92 in 2000 and topped by 738 searches in 2023, whereas the total number of results consists of 8415 positions. Therapeutic effects of psychedelics are becoming more recognized over time. Summary: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a complex condition that affects both the psychological and somatic aspects of the body. Thus, a multidimensional intervention is indicated. The use of psychedelics might contribute to improvements not only in the severity of PTSD but also in depression or pain. Further research on a larger group of participants should be carried out to assess the potential role of psychedelics in conventional medicine in the future, alongside psychotherapy.

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Will MDMA-assisted psychotherapy become a breakthrough in treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder? A critical narrative review.

Cited by 7 publications

References 40 publications

Medications for the Treatment of Alcohol Dependence—Current State of Knowledge and Future Perspectives from a Public Health Perspective

Medications for the Treatment of Alcohol Dependence—Current State of Knowledge and Future Perspectives from a Public Health Perspective

Progress in Personalized Psychiatric Therapy with the Example of Using Intranasal Oxytocin in PTSD Treatment

Psychedelics as a treatment for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

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