Examining MDMA as Cure for PTSD

Background: Although it is projected that a large percentage of the population will experience a traumatic event, only approximately 7% will develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For those who develop PTSD, the gold-standard treatment is psychotherapy. When therapy is ineffective, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, specifically paroxetine and sertraline, have been Food and Drug Administration–approved for the treatment of PTSD. Psychedelics such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) have been assessed for their efficacy as an adjunctive treatment of PTSD along with therapy. TSND-201, an analog of MDMA, increases the release of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. This analog does not share MDMA’s hallucinogenic properties. Objective: To assess the efficacy of TSND-201 as a monotherapy for PTSD. Design: Double-blind, randomized clinical trial. Participants: 65 adult participants with PTSD. Methods: This trial was a 10-week study conducted from Novem more...