[2] However, even though trauma-related disorders can hinder the everyday life of individuals with them, less than 50% of patients who meet criteria for PTSD diagnosis receive proper treatment.
[6] Psychedelics such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin have been researched and used as treatments in the United States of America for mental disorders as early as 1947.
[6][7] In 2017, both 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and Psilocybin were given the status of breakthrough therapies by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and allowed for clinical trials of both substances use in psychedelic treatments of mental disorders.
Although the drug was found not to be an effective blood clotting medication, it was later resynthesized by the chemist Alexander Shulgin in 1976.
[6] The drug grew in popularity in the 1980s because of its psychotropic properties and ability to facilitate and alter emotional states.
Currently, MDMA is classified as a Schedule I drug in the United States, meaning it is viewed as having no accepted medical use and has a high potential for abuse.
[8][11] These potential benefits of MDMA usage can help the therapist during talk therapy address the traumatic events suffered by patients.
[11][13] Usually, two therapists accompany each patient while under the influence of MDMA and help facilitate introspection and encourage remembering and processing the traumatic events.
[8][11][13] Therapy sessions last 6 to 8 hours and usually end when the drug's effects on the patients return to baseline.
Psilocybin has been shown to increase emotional empathy, creative thinking, mindfulness, and insightfulness in patients, which can help the therapist work with the client to overcome their trauma.
[8] Most treatments using Psilocybin are focused on reducing depression and anxiety, which are common co-morbid diagnoses with trauma-related disorders and share many similar symptoms (i.e., anhedonia, sleep disturbance, negative cognitions, feelings of guilt and shame).
[1][8] In the United States, Ketamine is classified as a Schedule III drug,[21] meaning it is considered substantially safe and can be used for medical purposes under pharmacist management.
In addition to this, Ketamine has been shown to increase synaptic and neuronal plasticity,[8] which can help remodel traumatic memories.
[22] Studies that used Ketamine in addition to psychotherapy showed that it was effective at reducing depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms.
Adverse effects and addiction are significant concerns people have when discussing psychedelics for the benefit of treatment.
The drugs seem to have a good safety profile, and patients and clinicians saw the long-term benefits of psychedelics treatment to outweigh acute aversive reactions.