Phase 3 Study of MDMA Proves Clinically Effective (May 10th)

Listeners may recall I interviewed Dr. Rick Doblin in October 2019 regarding the potential therapeutic benefits of LSD, psilocybin and other psychedelic agents.  (The interview is at: https://www.thehealthcarepolicypodcast.com/2019/11/dr-rick-doblin-discusses-the-therapeutic-potential-of-psychedelics-october-31st-.html.)   

Today's New York Times published a front page article titled, "Psychedelics Are Poised to Reshape Psychiatry," that picks up on last week's reporting noting Nature Medicine is soon to publish the results of a Phase 3 clinical trial that showed pairing MDMA, more commonly termed Ecstasy and Molly, with counseling demonstrated therapeutic benefits for those suffering from PTSD.   (A recently NEJM-published study showed the benefits of treating depression with psilocybin (found in certain mushrooms).   

Today's lengthy NYT piece is in part an account of Dr. Doblin's 40 year effort to reintroduce these chemical agents into the clinical setting.