Abstract
Objectives: The number of research papers on the use of complementary and alternative methods (CAM) has increased drastically over the last decade. A surge of interest in traditional Eastern methods of healing, such as Yoga and Meditation, in the Western world has led to the demand for scientific evidence to support the use of these methods in modern healthcare. Specifically, there is increased interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), such as MDMA-assisted therapy, and mindfulness-based therapy (MBT), such as Yoga and Meditation-based therapies, in the treatment of PTSD. Results from studies up to this point have been promising. This present review attempts to analyze recent research studies and clinical trials from around the world, generated within the last 10 years, in order to determine the efficacy of CAMS in the treatment of PTSD.
Methods: This review was conducted on qualifying articles published from 2012-2022. Several online databases were searched to find relevant clinical trials focused on the use of psychedelic-assisted therapy or mindfulness-based therapy in the treatment of PTSD. A rapid review was then conducted following Cochrane’s guidelines for completing a rapid review.
Results: A total of 79 studies were found, of which nine met the inclusion criteria for this review. Five studies made use of psychedelic-assisted therapy and four studies made use of a mindfulness-based intervention in their protocol. All nine studies used the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) as their primary outcome measurement for PTSD. Eight of the nine studies showed a clinically significant decrease in CAPS scores following the intervention with only one study showing a decrease that wasn’t clinically significant.
Conclusions: Both psychedelic-assisted therapy and mindfulness-based therapy are promising CAMs in the treatment of PTSD. The studies using psychedelic-assisted therapy showed a slightly larger decrease in PTSD diagnosis than the MBT studies.
Keywords: Psychedelic-assisted therapy, MDMA, Mindfulness-based therapy, PTSD, CAM.