MDMA used to treat mental health
Australians suffering from treatment-resistant depression and post-traumatic-stress-disorder (PTSD) can apply to undergo psychedelic-assisted therapy, in the first Australian clinic of its kind in the country.
The Clarion Clinic, based in Abbotsford in Melbourne, have opened expression of interests ahead of its opening set for September.
If approved the patient could undergo a treatment program that lasts for about nine months, and includes two doses of either MDMA for PTSD, or psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression, combined with multiple therapy sessions.
The drugs will be administered in a clinically-controlled environment, and approval of the therapy will require a clinical diagnosis for either condition.
Clarion Clinics co-founder, and Monash University’s Clinical Psychedelic Lab head, Paul Liknaitzky said the psychiatric and medical screening process prior to being enrolled for the therapy will be stringent.
Although Dr Liknaitzky is careful to say the treatment will not and shouldn’t be for everyone, he says he’s seen some “very impressive results” in clinical trial participants.
“Our experience has shown us what outcomes can look like following this treatment, and the quality and type of support that is needed to get benefits,” he said.
“People have been able to turn their lives around in remarkable ways, often following decades of suffering with severe symptoms and disability.”
Dr Liknaitzky compares psychedelic-assisted therapy to surgery, or seeing a specialist.
“This is high-intensity, specialist, and augmented psychotherapy,” he said.
“And as with surgery, you wouldn’t go see your surgeon once a week for the rest of your life, that just wouldn’t be a good model of surgical care. Rather, we need to achieve high rates of remission in the longer term for this treatment approach to be viable, and this goal is what our clinic is designed for.”
Whether Clarion will be able to open in September, will be contingent on clinicians obtaining final authorisations and permits from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
This includes becoming an Authorised Prescriber, which allows psychiatrists to lawfully dispense the drugs.
This follows the regulatory body’s controversial decision to approve the use of psilocybin to and MDMA to treat PTSD and chronic depressions from July 1.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners’ Specific Interests Addiction Medicine chair Hester Wilson was among a vocal contingent of health experts who questioned the lack of “information on treatment efficacy and safety, as well as evidence-based practice, governance and oversight”.
“From my point of view, it seems the TGA may have bowed to pressure from one external, and no doubt well-meaning, private organisation/lobby group, combined with the evidence of one overseas expert, Professor David Nutt,” she wrote in March.
“We have considerable local expertise and their advice was not specifically sought for the TGA approval.”
