Ecstasy could one day be used as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The illegal party drug, also known as MDMA, has been awarded ‘breakthrough status’ by the FDA for the treatment of the mental health condition.
This means there is substantial evidence the ‘medication’ may benefit PTSD sufferers and should therefore be developed faster as a potential treatment.
PTSD symptoms are triggered by sounds or smells that cause sufferers’ memories to come flooding back. MDMA is thought to dampen this response and allow people to overcome their trauma.
Previous studies have demonstrated 61 out of 107 PTSD patients no longer show symptoms one year after MDMA treatment.
