MDMA and Psychotherapy

I am considering writing an opinion paper for university on the benefits of MDMA for psychotherapy on certain groups of people, such as people with depression, PTSD, various trauma.

What kind of papers or information have you guys read up on this subject?

I have some of my own sources currently but I was wondering if anyone had ever read anything particularly substantial on the topic.

Also what is your opinion on the topic?

 

I certainly reccomend reading the secret chief.
http://www.maps.org/secretchief/sctoc.html


Also, theres alot of info on ongoing studies on the maps website.
www.maps.org

 

Shivaya beat me to it, check out maps.org for sure! Good job trying to revamp MDMA studies.

 

An Article on the success of MDMA-assisted Psychotherapy http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100719082927.htm
An article that give some info on the procedural aspects of an MDMA study. http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/09/new-trial-gives-vets-ecstasy-to-treat-their-ptsd/

With the newer articles I've read regarding MDMA-assisted therapy to treat PTSD, there has been an overwhelming efficacy with the individuals given MDMA-assisted treatment but the sample sizes have been fairly limited. I am interested to see if the results will vary on a larger population pool. Also, with this MDMA-assisted therapy these veterans are still involved in many forms of traditional therapy, so a large part of the efficacy of the MDMA is treatment under professional guidance and supervision.


When MDMA was legal in the 70's and early 80's, MDMA was being explored for end of life anxiety situations as well with some success. I've seen most this information on documentaries and stuff, so I don't have any links for you for that but perhaps it's worth looking into.

 

Don't you guys know that extacy puts holes in your brain.

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed - put mdma in the search field and look at your choices!

 

Haha you better be kidding

 

Ya... so ?

 

Sounds very interesting, I wish you well with this! Love it.
I really wanna help you out so definitely search for Rick Doblin - he is a PhD Associate for Psychedelic studies.
https://www.************/rick.doblin << That is also a Facebook page with up to date things that he has done recently for campaigns and research benefits. I adore him. I watched him in a documentary about MDMA on Youtube and the things he came out with were absolutely brilliant.
Hope that helped a bit!

 

Thanks everyone. I live in the deep south in USA and at first a couple of the students in my class gave me some very scolding looks when I mentioned that I am going to write my paper on this. Oh well. Maybe i can teach em something

 

Good luck to you buddy!

 

By the way ill keep you guys updated with how its going

 

yeah I'd be interested in hearing about it for sure

 

Regarding the myth that MDMA causes holes in the brain, Not sure if people we're being sarcastic pranksters or not but since this is an educational thread, Here's an article discussing the myth. http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/mdma/mdma_neurotoxicity3.shtml

 

In terms of structuring your paper, maybe present PTSD and its effects on people's lives, review current treatment options and outcomes (psychotherapy + medication such as SSRI has 50%-75% success rate), then present MDMA-assisted psychotherapy as a means of addressing that more difficult to treat 50%-25%. Consider mixing references to include peer-reviewed scientific journals such as those accessed via pubmed and a few personal stories, e.g., from a combat veteran and from a person who was raped or otherwise abused because THIS SHIT REALLY DOES MATTER.

 

Here's an example of a pubmed listing:

Clin Psychol Rev. 2009 Dec;29(8):715-26. Epub 2009 Sep 10.

Emerging treatments for PTSD.

Cukor J, Spitalnick J, Difede J, Rizzo A, Rothbaum BO.
Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA.
Abstract
Recent innovations in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) research have identified new treatments with significant potential, as well as novel enhancements to empirically-validated treatments. This paper reviews emerging psychotherapeutic and pharmacologic interventions for the treatment of PTSD. It examines the evidence for a range of interventions, from social and family-based treatments to technological-based treatments. It describes recent findings regarding novel pharmacologic approaches including propranolol, ketamine, prazosin, and methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Special emphasis is given to the description of virtual reality and D-cycloserine as enhancements to prolonged exposure therapy.
PMID: 19800725 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

not a journal article or anything, but on topic:

http://www.oprah.com/health/PTSD-and-MDMA-Therapy-Medical-Uses-of-Ecstasy/1

 

That's a good one.

 

Thank you everyone. I have been working on the paper today its pretty decent so far. I was going for a more extensive research paper type deal, at least thats what i thought the assignment was, but it is more of an opinion essay. So it wont be as extensive as i thought it would be........

Basically im arguing for legalization/re-scheduling of MDMA for medicinal use in the field of psychotherapy. Ive been doing a load of slightly side tracked reading on Shulgin, SO interesting!!!

 

UPDATE:
i ENDED UP DOING QUITE WELL WITH THE RESEARCH PAPER DISCUSSED IN THIS THREAD. I HAVE another paper that I am currently writing. If you guys are interested check out the thread I made.

http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/showthread.php?t=460517&f=43

Appreciated