Prompt Cast
The Potential Therapeutic Applications of MDMA for Mental Health Disorders
TLDR MDMA, also known as Ecstasy or Molly, is being studied for its potential as a medicine for treating mental health disorders such as PTSD. Recent research has shown promising results in using MDMA to aid therapy sessions and improve communication, with some participants experiencing significant improvement and being considered in remission. However, there are concerns about potential negative effects and the purity of MDMA bought on the street.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
MDMA, commonly known as Ecstasy or Molly, is being considered as a potential medicine for treating mental health disorders such as PTSD, despite being illegal in the US.
04:41
MDMA, originally created as a medicine to stop bleeding, was first used by researchers in the 1960s and 70s to help patients with therapy, and it was found to be effective in opening up communication and aiding in therapy sessions.
09:19
MDMA was originally used as medicine for therapy, but it became illegal in 1985 due to its recreational use at cocktail parties; however, recent researchers have been studying MDMA again to understand why it makes us feel good and its effects on neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and oxytocin.
13:49
MDMA has been found to make people less responsive to negative emotions and more connected with others, which could have potential therapeutic applications.
18:06
MDMA has been found to have potential therapeutic applications in treating post-traumatic stress disorder, as shown in a recent study where participants with PTSD were given MDMA and engaged in eight-hour therapy sessions.
22:46
MDMA has shown promising results in treating PTSD, with almost half of the participants in a study experiencing significant improvement and being considered in remission, and certain psychiatrists in Australia can now prescribe MDMA for PTSD; however, there are concerns about the potential negative effects and the "Tuesday Blues" that some people experience after taking MDMA.
27:40
Studies have found that some MDMA users can experience a "come down" or feelings of depression in the days after taking the drug, but research suggests that this may not be as common as previously thought, and controlled studies have not found evidence of a crash or negative mood after MDMA use.
32:25
Taking a lot of MDMA can potentially damage the brain and memory, but there is limited evidence to suggest that occasional use causes brain damage, although there have been rare cases of death from drinking too much water while on MDMA.
36:52
Studies have found that MDMA bought on the street or at music festivals is often adulterated with potentially dangerous substances like bath salts, fentanyl, ketamine, or caffeine, making it difficult to know if the MDMA is pure or not.
41:22
The episode has 180 citations and next week's episode will explore the science of caffeine.
