What is PTSD? What are the Best Treatment and Therapy Options?
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What is PTSD?
In some cases, those who have experienced a traumatic event, such as witnessing violence, surviving natural disasters, the death of loved ones, or sexual trauma, end up with anxiety that persists within their daily lives for months or even years. Coping with this stress, and even outright fear, can be debilitating
How to Treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Typically, psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of the two are used to treat PTSD.
Many types of therapy are used to treat PTSD; however, trauma-focused psychotherapies provided by a mental healthcare professional are the most recommended. This enables patients to process their experiences of the traumatic event.
Psychedelics as Treatment for PTSD Shows Promise
On August 16, 2017, the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to MDMA for the treatment of PTSD. In November 2022, MAPS Public Benefit Corporation ("MAPS PBC"), a private company dedicated to the development and commercialization of psychedelic medicines, announced the final participant visit has been completed in MAPP2, a multi-site Phase 3 study of MDMA-assisted therapy ("MDMA-AT") for post-traumatic stress disorder ("PTSD"). In December 2023, MAPS submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for MDMA-assisted therapy. The application included data from two randomized, double-blind Phase 3 studies on MDMA, MAPP1 and MAPP2, as well as numerous earlier trials. In February 2024, The US FDA accepted and granted priority review of the NDA for MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD.
Psilocybin, the active ingredient in "magic mushrooms", is beginning to be studied, after being granted breakthrough status for treatment of depression.
These promising developments may lead to greater options, and improved outcomes in the years ahead.
PTSD Figures
Launching late 2024, PTSD.org will deliver comprehensive, medically-reviewed content designed to make understanding conditions and treatments easier, faster, and more accessible. Our medication, therapists, and clinics directory will be a trusted source of credible reviews, and standardized ratings.