Study of Vets Finds Ecstasy an Effective Treatment For PTSD
A combination of the party drug and talking with therapists allowed a majority of war vets to overcome their PTSD to a great extent War veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder have found unexpected relief from the banned drug MDMA, known more commonly as ecstasy. The psychedelic drug typically associated with hard-partying clubbers appears to cure PTSD entirely in some cases, Scientific American reports. The findings were presented at a conference held in San Jose last month, titled "Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century," and have psychiatrists excited over the unprecedented results. They came out of a study sponsored by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), which launched in 2004. Of 21 patients, 13 took ecstasy and then talked with psychiatrists about their wartime traumas. They saw huge drops in PTSD symptoms compared to the eight-person placebo group. Seven out of the eight in the placebo group also eventually chose to receive...