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A groundbreaking study showed that nearly 45% of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) achieved full remission after undergoing MDMA-assisted therapy through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The findings, shared by Dr. Shereef Elnahal, the VA’s undersecretary for health, suggest that MDMA therapy could be a game-changer for veterans struggling with PTSD. The research, which highlights the transformative potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy, comes as the VA increasingly explores alternative treatments for service members suffering from PTSD.
"Forty-five percent (45%) have gone into complete remission, which is essentially a 'normal emotional state.' That is unheard-of with prolonged exposure, cognitive processing, and certainly SSRIs, the current standard-of-care options," Dr. Elnahal told Anderson Cooper on "60 Minutes."
MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, is classified as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, indicating it has a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. However, recent clinical trials have shown that when used in combination with psychotherapy, MDMA may significantly reduce PTSD symptoms—and in some cases, eliminate them entirely.
In a 2023 study, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, highlighted that by the end of an 18-week trial, 71.2% of participants receiving MDMA-assisted therapy no longer met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, compared to 47.6% in the placebo group.
Following these positive results, the VA announced in December 2024 that it would be actively funding studies to evaluate the effectiveness of psychedelics in treating PTSD and co-occurring conditions such as alcohol use disorder. The research is part of a broader movement toward revolutionizing mental health treatments for veterans who have not responded to traditional therapies like antidepressants.
While the VA’s research remains ongoing, many veterans have already sought MDMA-assisted therapy outside of the U.S.—often traveling to countries like Mexico, where it is legal. In the CBS News report, several former service members shared their experiences after attending psychedelic-assisted retreats.
One such veteran is TJ Duff, a former Navy sailor. Months into his first deployment on the USS Cole in Yemen, then 18-year-old Duff escaped death after suicide bombers attacked his ship, killing 17 sailors.
"Everyone around me was killed. There's bodies, alive and dead, being piled up in the midships. And-- I think that's really where I just started holding everything in," Duff told "60 Minutes."
Struggling with nightmares and anxiety, while finding little relief through traditional treatments, he sought alternative methods. He traveled to Mexico for a psychedelic retreat, where he underwent therapy involving ayahuasca and ibogaine. The experience, he said, allowed him to confront deeply buried trauma, helping him process the emotions he had suppressed for decades. Duff described the treatment as transformative.
Despite the results showing much promise and potential, Dr. Elnahal said it could take "another couple of years" before MDMA-assisted therapy.
"We've heard the nominee for HHS-- Robert F. Kennedy, Junior, talk about what he thinks the potential breakthrough therapy is. We'll see what that stance is of other health officials, but that's really promising," he added.
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