The psychological condition of many PTSD patients is unstable, and they are particularly vulnerable to increases in anxiety when reexperiencing traumatic memories, which in some cases can be amplified by classical psychedelics.
Classical psychedelics such as psilocybin and LSD have shown promising results for the treatment of a variety of psychiatric indications, but clinical trials focusing on the treatment of PTSD are still lacking.
Although the fear response can also be reduced by classical psychedelics, this may be much more dependent on the psychological state of the patient. The psychological condition of many PTSD patients is unstable, and they are particularly vulnerable to increases in anxiety when reexperiencing traumatic memories, which in some cases can be amplified by classical psychedelics.
For these reasons, classical psychedelics might have less potential for the treatment of PTSD than MDMA. Their potential might be maximized by a stringent patient selection, the use of lower doses, and specifically structured settings.
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