MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD

MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD

MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD is a relatively recent area of study. While reports in the 1970’s described the potential for MDMA to facilitate communication and connection between therapists and patients, the 80’s saw the recreational use of MDMA became popular, leading to its classification as a Schedule 1 controlled substance in 1985, and thus created barriers for research and therapy. Recently, there has been a groundswell of attitude change towards the therapeutic potential of MDMA.

MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD Treatment

The article below is part of Frshminds’ “Psychedelic Science Snapshot Series” where Frshminds reviews the latest in psychedelic research.

Original authors: Michael C. Mithoefer, Allison A. Feduccia, Lisa Jerome, Anne Mithoefer, Mark Wagner, Zach Walsh, Scott Hamilton, Berra Yazar-Klosinski, Amy Emerson, & Rick Doblin
Summarized by: Emily Fewster

Introduction: MDMA, Psychotherapy and PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often the result of a person’s experiencing a traumatic event. PTSD is characterized by symptoms such as negativity, detachment, hyper-reactivity, and having memories that are unwanted and hard to ignore (Koenen et al. 2017). PTSD is surprisingly common, with estimates of the number of sufferers ranging up to 5% globally (Kilpatrick et al. 2013; Koenen et al. 2017).

Psychotherapy is typically the first line of treatment for PTSD. But this is by no means a guaranteed remedy, and may or may not result in significant out-of-pocket expense. There are a few approved pharmaceutical remedies, but they are also imperfect, with perhaps half of all patients not responding to them, not to mention the potential side effects and the fact that they must be used indefinitely to bring lasting change.

History of MDMA and Psychotherapy

MDMA’s reputation as a party drug in the 1980’s meant that it was quite difficult to conduct clinical research into it’s efficacy. MAPS, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, a not-for-profit advocating for the normalization of psychedelics, conducted a study (of 6 other studies, drawn from Phase 2 trials) that sought to understand whether MDMA could be used in conjunction with psychotherapy to help alleviate PTSD. If the results were promising, MAPS’ advocacy would turn to the acceleration of the third phase of research in the studies. After demonstrating that MDMA was not intrinsically harmful or toxic to the patient, the studies turned their attention to the therapeutic benefits.

MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy – Groundbreaking Clinical Work

In the studies, doses of MDMA were given to the PTSD sufferers. Their therapy team would communicate with the patients, steer them through periods of introspective thinking, and encourage them to wear blindfolds and headphones to drive their sensory experience through music and visuals. This approach was thought to allow patients to face their trauma without becoming completely overwhelmed by the pain or anxiety such confrontation would cause. A steady series of integration sessions followed, with the same therapy team working with the patients to incorporate their experience into their lives.

Patient Assessments

The improvements in the “Active Group” (patients who had received actual MDMA) and “Control” (who received placebos) were statistically significant and considerable. The active group collectively reported substantial decreases in “CAPS-IV” scores (essentially, the degree to which they experience PTSD symptoms. More than 50% of them no longer even met the definition of afflicted with PTSD. Truly, the impact of MDMA was real, and it was spectacular.

MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD
Study results monitoring PTSD symptoms.

MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy Safety Outcomes

Safety was measured across a number of metrics – any reporting of side effects or unwanted outcomes, the potential for abuse of the drug after the trials were over, etc. Essentially the results showed that some mild or moderate side effects were often present, but they tended to dissipate within a week or less; these may include panic attacks and irritability. Importantly, while suicidal thoughts were reported by one member of the group prior to treatment, no reports emerged after the MDMA was administered. And critically, there were no instances of behavior that would indicate that the patients would seek to abuse MDMA now that the trial was over.

Advancing to Phase 3 Trials for MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy

The results of the phase 2 trials were pretty definitive. Patients who had not responded to pharmaceutical treatments did respond to the MDMA, and were positively impacted. The successful results have, in fact, brought phase 3 trials to the fore. In this round of study, patients would receive additional doses of MDMA as much evidence is emerging that shows that additional doses drove even greater responses, and for longer durations. If successful once more, by 2022 the FDA may in fact recognize MDMA as a successful and legal treatment for PTSD, a long-awaited breakthrough for a substance that can help millions of people.

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About the Author

Passionate about studying the psychedelic/mystical experience from a neuropsychological lens, Emily is a member of MAPS Canada Research Committee and graduated with an Honours BSc in Cognitive Neuropsychology from York University.  She currently leads a team of RAS with a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial investigating microdosing psilocybin for persistent depressive disorder.

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