Follow-up study finds lasting benefit from MDMA for people with PTSD

The follow-up study was based on an original trial held in 2010 where 20 patients suffering from long term PTSD were given MDMA (the main ingredient in the party drug ecstasy) as part of their psychotherapy sessions. The researchers reported at the time that 83% of the participants showed improvements in their condition two months later.

In this new work, the researchers revisited the original patients three and a half years later (one refused to participate leaving just 19) to see how well they were doing. They found that just two of the patients had suffered a relapse – the rest they say maintained the relief they had found in the original trial.

The research was sponsored by the group Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), whose mission is to seek out treatments for a variety of mental ailments using non-traditional drug therapies. In addition to providing funds for the trials they also worked out agreements with the government to allow for legal testing of the drug (it currently has as a Schedule I status.)

Study leads Michael and Ann Mithoefer conducted the original trial out of their private practice office. Each trial was conducted with a single patient at a time and involved a non-pharmaceutical therapy session followed by one where the patient was given a dose of MDMA. Another traditional session was held later – the sessions that included use of the drug lasted up to eight hours because the effects of the drugs last that long.

The researchers believe that MDMA helps PTSD sufferers by allowing them to relive the emotionally traumatic experience that led to their condition in a more relaxed and receptive way. Because of the promising results, MAPS is calling on the government to relax its rules on the testing and use of MDMA for medical applications.

Baby Laughter Survey

At Birkbeck Babylab psychologists study how babies learn about world. We believe that the laughter of babies can tell us a great deal about what they are thinking and how much they understand about the world. You can’t laugh if you don’t get the joke and neither does your baby. We believe that what your baby laughs at will change as they grow up. Therefore, we are conducting the world’s first global survey of baby laughter. We would like to know what kinds of things your baby finds funny. Who are the funniest people? What are the funniest songs, sounds, toys and games? What are the funniest parts of your baby’s daily routine?

The survey is anonymous, confidential and takes about 15-20 minutes to complete.