MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy in People With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Brief Summary

This randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study assessed the safety and effectiveness of MDMA-assisted therapy among people with chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD, including veterans. The study enrolled 23 participants. Participants were assigned to receive either therapy with a single divided dose of MDMA or lactose placebo during two blinded experimental sessions spaced three to five weeks apart during Stage 1 of the study. During these experimental sessions, participants received an initial dose of 125 mg of MDMA followed by a supplemental dose of 62.5 mg of MDMA, or they received initial and supplemental doses of inactive placebo.

Intervention / Treatment

  • Drug: 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)
  • Drug: lactose (placebo
  • Behavioral: Psychotherapy
  • Drug: 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine
  • Drug: Lactose placebo pill
  • Behavioral: Therapy

Condition or Disease

  • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Phase

Study Design

Study type: Interventional
Status: Completed
Study results: Has Results
Age: 18 Years to 70 Years   (Adult, Older Adult)
Enrollment: 23 ()
Funded by: Other

Masking

Clinical Trial Dates

Start date: Mar 01, 2004
Primary Completion: Jul 01, 2010
Completion Date: Sep 01, 2010
Study First Posted: Aug 25, 2004
Results First Posted: Oct 25, 2021
Last Updated: Nov 26, 2021

Sponsors / Collaborators

Lead Sponsor: N/A
Responsible Party: N/A

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs in response to a traumatic event or events. It is most likely to occur following an event involving perceived personal threat, such as rape or physical assault. PTSD is clearly a public health problem that causes a great deal of suffering and accounts for a significant portion of health care costs.

MDMA is a substance possessing unique effects that make it well suited to intensive psychotherapy. MDMA has been hypothesized to represent a new class of drugs, called entactogens, that produce feelings of closeness to others, empathy, well being, and insightfulness. Anecdotal reports of therapy conducted before MDMA was placed on Schedule I suggest that MDMA-assisted psychotherapy may benefit people with PTSD.

This randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study assessed the safety and effectiveness of MDMA-assisted therapy among people with chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD, including veterans. The study enrolled 23 participants. Participants were assigned to receive either therapy with a single divided dose of MDMA or lactose placebo during two blinded experimental sessions spaced three to five weeks apart during Stage 1 of the study. During these experimental sessions, participants received an initial dose of 125 mg of MDMA followed by a supplemental dose of 62.5 mg of MDMA, or they received initial and supplemental doses of inactive placebo. Psychotherapists and independent raters were blinded to participants' treatment conditions. This treatment period also consisted of preparatory sessions and several non-drug therapy sessions to facilitate integration of material arising during experimental sessions.

During Stage 2 of the study, the blind was broken and participants assigned to receive MDMA in Stage 1 underwent a third open-label experimental session of MDMA-assisted therapy. Participants assigned placebo during Stage 1 who chose to enroll in Stage 2 underwent three open-label sessions of MDMA-assisted therapy. Outcome measures were administered two months after the second MDMA or placebo session in Stage 1 and four to six weeks after the second MDMA session in Stage 2. A final data-collection session took place at two months after the third experimental session.

The primary objective of the study was to measure change in PTSD symptoms via CAPS-IV across the study in participants receiving the placebo vs. full dose of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy.

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All
Minimum Age: 18
Maximum Age: 70

More Details

NCT Number: NCT00090064
Other IDs: MP1
Study URL: https://ClinicalTrials.gov/show/NCT00090064
Last updated: Jun 16, 2022