Originally appearing here. Every day new statistics come out about combat veterans having PTSD which not only effects them but their families. Solutions like therapy and prescription drugs haven’t done much to produce relief for these soldiers. The numbers are pretty staggering and can be found in more detail at a website called Heal My PTSD. However, specific numbers for combat veterans are that in the lifetime of vets 10-30% will experience PTSD symptoms. So far in the last year the cases of veterans diagnosed has jumped 50%. There have been studies done that have said 1 in 5 veterans returning to the US from Afghanistan or Iraq have PTSD. The total number of veterans who could have PTSD is around 300,000 of them. With numbers like those, stories in the New York Times talking about a party drug like Ecstasy potentially curing people with PTSD is great news. The Journal of Psychopharmacology has revealed a study by Michael and Ann Mithoefer. This group of psychotherapists offer therapy along with Ecstasy (MDMA). What are the results of offering people with PTSD symptoms Ecstasy? In the specific study the numbers come out to 15 of 21 people with PTSD have recovered. This opens up potential tests for soldiers to try and cure their post-traumatic stress from Ecstasy therapy. The actual results of how this could all pan out for war veterans is unknown but the first step is the discussion on the medical level. The Department of Defense had spokesman come out and ensure that they have no research or involvement with Ecstasy research for PTSD. Dr. Mithoefer said that, “more than 250 vets call us” wanting to be apart of the study. The tests still have a long way to go but it looks like great news with people suffering from debilitating post-traumatic stress disorder. Video: Michael Mithoefer MDMA/PTSD Special Segment from CNN Video: San Francisco Veterans Affairs: Treating PTSD with MDMA-Assisted Therapy On June 1, 2012, MAPS Founder & Executive Director Rick Doblin, Ph.D. and Clinical Investigator Michael Mithoefer, M.D., spoke at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center about treating veterans suffering from PTSD with MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. Video: Report: Treat PTSD with Ecstasy Ana Kasparian and Cenk Uygur discuss a recent report which states that ecstasy should be used to treat post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Should we be using ecstasy to treat PTSD? Video: PTSD – The war within Out of two million US soldiers who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq, psychiatrists estimate that one in three may, at some point, develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is the story of five American soldiers stricken with PTSD. One is on trial for murder, two committed suicide and two others are still in the army, struggling to get treatment. Video: PTSD-A Soldiers perspective Video: USC Program Helps Soldiers Deal With PTSD Videos can be viewed here.
Z6 Mag posts a lot of information and videos revolving around our research into treating PTSD with MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, ranging from CNN interviews, to the lead psychotherapist speaking at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs.
