The Efficacy of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Managing Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A New Frontier?

Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a significant public health concern for which existing therapies are only marginally effective. Indisputably, the primary line of treatment for PTSD is psychotherapy, according to current treatment guidelines. However, PTSD continues to be a chronic condition even after psychotherapy, with high psychiatric and medical illness rates. There is a dire need to search for new compounds and approaches for managing PTSD. The usage of psychedelic substances is a potential new method. This article reviews the efficacy of psychedelic-assisted therapy in treating PTSD and improving patient outcomes. It will examine current research on the topic and evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of different therapies. The current evidence for the use of four different types of psychedelics (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, ketamine, classical psychedelics, and cannabis) in the treatment of PTSD will be reviewed. It will also include an overview of the therapeutic justification, context of use, and level of evidence available for each drug. Several questions are formulated that could be studied in future research in order to gain a better understanding of the topic.

Keywords: cannabinoids; dmt; hallucinogens; ketamine; lsd; mdma; post traumatic stress disorder; psilocybin; psychedelic-assisted therapy; ptsd.

Figure 1. The hypothesized impact of psychedelic-assisted therapy on the pathophysiology of PTSD

PTSD - post-traumatic stress disorder; HPA - hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal