How psychedelics help people with post-traumatic stress disorder

While MDMA has the clearest evidence so far, studies also show that psilocybin can help people with PTSD by restoring neural flexibility, the brain's ability to…

How psychedelics can help people with post-traumatic stress disorder

While MDMA has the clearest evidence to date, studies also show that psilocybin can help people with PTSD by restoring neural flexibility, the brain's ability to change and adapt.

New research shows that MDMA (ecstasy / Molly) can restore neural resilience in people with post-traumatic stress is characterized by the brain to unlike fear and relify to be safe.

PTSD can develop after a person experiences a traumatic event such as war, assault, accidents, or natural disasters.People with PTSD often feel constant fear, have trouble sleeping, are easily startled or feel unsafe even in normal situations.Conventional treatments such as therapy and antidepressants help some people, but many still suffer, according to the World Health Organization.

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Researchers have explored psychedelic drugs such as MDMA, or ecstasy, and psilocybin (from "magic mushroom") as a new way to treat PTSD.Studies show that these drugs, when combined with therapy, can help the brain "learn to fear" and "learn to protect".

A large clinical trial published in Nature Medicine tested MDMA-assisted treatment for adults with severe PTSD.Participants received three sessions of MDMA and therapy over the course of 18 weeks, with pre- and post-treatments to help process their experiences.

67 percent of people treated with MDMA did not meet criteria for PTSD, compared to 32 percent of those who received placebo treatment.

Participants also reported less fear, anxiety, and alertness, and improved daily functioning.

While MDMA has the clearest evidence, studies also show that psilocybin can help people with PTSD by restoring muscle flexibility, the brain's ability to change and adapt.In PTSD, brain networks can become "stuck" in fear responses.Psilocybin can help these networks create new connections, allowing people to respond to trauma in healthier ways.

While psilocybin is still being studied directly for PTSD, studies on depression and anxiety have shown that:

It can improve the brain and relationships, helping people think and think in new ways.

This can support the processing of difficult emotions safely during therapy sessions.

These findings suggest that psilocybin may help the brain "unravel" fear patterns and promote long-term recovery.

PTSD is associated with an excessive fear response in the amygdala, the area of ​​the brain that processes threats, and poor control in the prefrontal cortex, which helps regulate emotions.MDMA appears to calm fear responses while increasing trust and emotional engagement with treatment.Psilocybin appears to increase brain plasticity and help people create healthier ways of thinking about trauma.

"Although the results are encouraging, the researchers warn that more studies are needed. Experts are still studying the safety, long-term effects and how to properly deliver the therapy. To avoid risks, psychedelic therapy should always be performed under controlled conditions by trained professionals."According to the study.

However, the early discoveries of MDMA and psilocybin gave hope to millions of people suffering from PTSD.These drugs could be a powerful new tool to help the brain heal after trauma, providing relief when traditional therapies or drugs don't work.

According to the WHO, PTSD affects approximately 3.9 percent of people worldwide at some point in their lives.While nearly 70 percent of people worldwide are exposed to potentially traumatic events, only a small proportion develop PTSD.

About 5.6% of those affected experienced post-traumatic stress disorder.Although the World Health Organization emphasizes that recovery is possible with appropriate treatment and support, access to treatment remains limited in many low- and middle-income countries.In fact, in these settings, only one in four people with PTSD receive any type of treatment.

PTSD can be treated with medication, therapy, and interventions.Psychotherapy is the main way to help people survive trauma and manage symptoms.Common types include cognitive therapy, cognitive therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and cognitive impairment and reactivity (EMDR).

Medications such as antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and prazosin can help reduce symptoms such as anxiety, mood swings, and nightmares.

Newer drugs such as MDMA therapy and LSD MDMA therapy show good results. It reduces fear during treatment and improves emotional engagement. While psilocybin may restore brain plasticity, it helps patients "forget" fear patterns associated with trauma.

Supportive measures, including mindfulness, exercise, healthy sleep, and support groups, can also improve recovery and help patients cope with daily stressors.

In Kenya, recent research shows that the burden of trauma and PTSD is much greater than previously understood.

Preliminary results from the Genetics of PTSD in Populations of African Ancestry (GPAA) study, a large collaboration led by the Aga Khan University Brain and Mind Institute (BMI) in collaboration with Harvard T.H.Chan School of Public Health and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard found that 55 percent of Kenyan adults may have PTSD at some point in their lives, with 21 percent reporting active symptoms in the past month.

Women are disproportionately affected, with 61 percent of women reporting lifetime PTSD compared to 39 percent of men.

The study also found geographic differences in Nairobi, where the prevalence of recent PTSD symptoms in areas such as Westlands Sub-County was around 48 percent, while in areas such as Kibra it was less than 17 percent.

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