Development of an Australian Clinical Practice Guideline on methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted Psychotherapy for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

medRxiv – February 18, 2025

Source: medRxiv/bioRxiv/arXiv

Summary

Recent changes in Australia now allow MDMA to be prescribed for PTSD, marking a significant shift in therapeutic approaches. A new clinical guideline outlines how this treatment can be effectively integrated into psychotherapy. The findings highlight MDMA's potential to enhance emotional processing and improve patient outcomes, offering hope for those affected by trauma.

Abstract

Introduction Despite recent clinical and research interest, medical use of psychedelics has not been legalised in most jurisdictions. The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration rescheduled methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in July 2023 to permit authorised prescribing of MDMA for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) outside of the clinical trial setting.