Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is funding its first psychedelic-assisted therapy study since the 1960s.
The study, affiliated with Brown and Yale universities, will explore MDMA’s effects on PTSD and alcohol use disorder in veterans.
MDMA-assisted therapy remains controversial, with concerns about potential abuse and the need for more research.
SALT LAKE CITY — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is planning to study the effects of a psychedelic drug on veterans as the regulatory landscape behind psychedelic treatment shifts.
The study, which is affiliated with Brown and Yale universities, is meant to understand the effectiveness and safety of MDMA — technically called 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and commonly referred to as ecstasy — on veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder, according to a press release sent Tuesday.
While there have been small studies at VA facilities using external funds, this is the first time the VA has funded a psychedelic-assisted therapy study since the 1960s, the release says.
"I think one of the challenges with PTSD or trauma exposure is we try to fit it into a nice neat box," said Dr. Steve Sugden, the Utah Psychiatrist Association president and a brigade commander in the U.S. Army Reserves. "Unfortunately, people just don’t respond well always to the nice, neat box approach."
There are over 127,000 veterans in Utah, according to the VA’s 2023 report, on top of an estimated 16,000 active duty National Guard and reserve members. PTSD among military members is higher than the general population, with around 7% of veterans reporting having it at some point in their life. If deployed, that number increases significantly, according to VA data.
Those who were part of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom report PTSD levels of 29%. How PTSD is treated The first line of treatment for PTSD is a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, commonly called SSRIs, and therapy that works to "integrate (a patient’s) experiences of the past," Sugden said."The therapy, the medications work for many people," according to Sugden. Someone experiencing symptoms of PTSD may find themselves locked into extremes between […]
VA is funding first psychedelic-assisted therapy study since the 1960s
