The Psychedelic Future of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment

Jan 29, 2024Current neuropharmacology

New Uses of Psychedelic Drugs for Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

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Abstract

An estimated 12 million U.S. adults are affected by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Current treatments for PTSD include psychological therapies and pharmacological treatments, but many patients remain symptomatic.
Psychedelic compounds, which alter cognition and mood, are being studied for their potential efficacy in treating PTSD.
Initial clinical trials suggest that psychedelic-assisted therapy may have value in treating PTSD and other psychiatric disorders.
The review covers various psychedelics, including psilocybin, LSD, DMT, MDMA, and ketamine, detailing their effects, pharmacology, and safety profiles.
The discussion includes the rationale for using psychedelics in treating PTSD and trauma-related disorders, along with their proposed mechanisms.

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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can occur following exposure to a traumatic experience. An estimated 12 million U.S. adults are presently affected by this disorder. Current treatments include psychological therapies (e.g., exposure-based interventions) and pharmacological treatments (e.g., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)). However, a significant proportion of patients receiving standard-of-care therapies for PTSD remain symptomatic, and new approaches for this and other trauma-related mental health conditions are greatly needed. Psychedelic compounds that alter cognition, perception, and mood are currently being examined for their efficacy in treating PTSD despite their current status as Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)- scheduled substances. Initial clinical trials have demonstrated the potential value of psychedelicassisted therapy to treat PTSD and other psychiatric disorders. In this comprehensive review, we summarize the state of the science of PTSD clinical care, including current treatments and their shortcomings. We review clinical studies of psychedelic interventions to treat PTSD, trauma-related disorders, and common comorbidities. The classic psychedelics psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and DMT-containing ayahuasca, as well as the entactogen 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and the dissociative anesthetic ketamine, are reviewed. For each drug, we present the history of use, psychological and somatic effects, pharmacology, and safety profile. The rationale and proposed mechanisms for use in treating PTSD and traumarelated disorders are discussed. This review concludes with an in-depth consideration of future directions for the psychiatric applications of psychedelics to maximize therapeutic benefit and minimize risk in individuals and communities impacted by trauma-related conditions.

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The Psychedelic Future of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment

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