MDMA – hopes and fears associated with therapeutic use in mental disorders

MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a psy choactive substance classified as a hallucinogen. MDMA acts in the brain through a variety of neurochem ical mechanisms, reducing anxiety, giving a sense of one ness with other people, expanding empathy, sharpening the senses and intensifying the experience of emotions. Therefore, the use of the MDMA assisted psychother apy is being considered in selected disorders, such as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and in treatment of alcoholic addition. Although the recreational use of ecstasy may lead to numerous life-threatening side effects, data available in the litera ture suggest that psychoactive substances may be safely administered in clinical settings. This article aims to review current research on the MDMA assisted psychotherapy. The first part of the ar ticle concludes data on MDMA assisted psychotherapy from available clinical trials. The second one sums up hopes and fears associated with the administration of MDMA in clinical settings that were discussed in the current clinical discourse. It seems that further studies are needed to determine the long-term safety and effectiveness of MDMA assisted psychotherapy.