Could adding the mood-altering drug ecstasy to psychotherapy help people in the military who’ve been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder recover in just two weeks? Alan Peterson, PhD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio), thinks it could, and he’s preparing a study to test that theory.
“We believe these medications will increase your neuroplasticity so that you can fully benefit from the therapy that you’re pursuing,” Peterson explained. He is the director of the STRONG STAR Consortium, a national research network focused on identifying the best prevention and treatment for psychological health issues affecting military members, veterans, and first responders.
“For the average service member who deploys to a combat zone, I would say there are hundreds of potentially traumatic events that they’re exposed to,” Peterson said. Around 17% of people who serve in active combat zones experience PTSD…