NEWS
14 September 2023
Correction 15 September 2023

Psychedelic drug MDMA moves closer to US approval following success in PTSD trial

Long-awaited trial data show drug is effective at treating post-traumatic stress disorder in a diversity of people.

Sara Reardon

Sara Reardon

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The psychedelic drug MDMA, also known as ecstasy or molly, has passed another key hurdle on its way to regulatory approval as a treatment for mental illness. A second large clinical trial has found that the drug — in combination with psychotherapy — is effective at treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The results allow the trial’s sponsor to now seek approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for MDMA’s use as a PTSD treatment for the general public, which might come as soon as next year.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-02886-x

Updates & Corrections

Correction 15 September 2023: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said that the American Psychological Association has urged caution over MDMA, stating that there has been a lack of evidence to endorse its use outside of controlled trials. It was the American Psychiatric Association.

References

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