History: The agony and the ecstasy – why psychiatrists used to give couples MDMA

Is your marriage driving you to distraction? How about to drugs?
1970s couple

Picture the scene: It’s 1970-something, and you’re glaring at your spouse, slumped on the couch, Chiko Roll crumbs collecting in their creased bell-bottoms, and you wonder â€” realistically â€” how many episodes of M*A*S*H can a person watch to distract themselves from this marital misery?

Finally, you agree to couples’ counselling in a last-ditch effort to save your relationship.