Dutch therapists are allegedly treating psychiatric patients with the illegal party drug ecstasy.

Ecstasy is said to help patients break through mental barriers, allowing them to more easily talk about dramatic events in their lives. People diagnosed with post-traumatic stress syndrome are said to benefit the most from taking the drug.

The claim was made by a therapist in newspaper 'Algemeen Dagblad' on the condition of anonymity.

The man said he had treated 150 patients with ecstasy in the past seven years and that other Dutch therapists prescribed it also.

German and Danish therapists are also reportedly in favour of the treatment.

Therapy involving ecstasy is also occurring in small clinical studies in the US, it was claimed in the newspaper.

But the Utrecht-based Trimbos Institute — which researches drug addiction — said it is not aware of any Dutch therapists using ecstasy as a form of treatment.

A spokesman warned of the danger of using contaminated drugs and the fact that ecstasy is not regulated or checked.

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