Overview
Anxiety disorder caused by stimulant use is a condition characterized by anxiety symptoms that arise during or shortly after the use of stimulant substances 1. Stimulants can induce elevated mood, increased energy, and feelings of bonding, but also commonly cause adverse effects such as anxiety and jitteriness 1.Diagnosis
Management
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy involves 2 to 3 multihour sessions with a team of psychiatrists 1.
Dosing of MDMA is used to facilitate therapeutic exploration of underlying trauma without causing excessive emotional distress 1.
Commonly reported adverse effects during MDMA-assisted psychotherapy include bruxism, anxiety, jitteriness, headache, and nausea 1.Special Populations
Key Recommendations
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) scores compared to control psychotherapy 1. (Evidence: Strong)
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy enhances the likelihood of achieving clinically significant reductions in CAPS scores and meeting criteria for remission from PTSD 1. (Evidence: Strong)
The use of unregulated MDMA or MDMA in the absence of a controlled psychotherapeutic environment requires careful consideration 1. (Evidence: Expert opinion)References
1 Smith KW, Sicignano DJ, Hernandez AV, White CM. MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis. Journal of clinical pharmacology 2022. link