Open Label Multi-Site Study of Safety and Effects of MDMA-assisted Therapy for Treatment of PTSD

Brief Summary

This multi-site, open-label, Phase 2, lead-in study assesses the safety and effect of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted therapy in participants diagnosed with at least severe posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Therapy teams that have been identified and trained to work on the sponsor's planned Phase 3 studies will treat at least one open-label participant in this study.

This study will compare the effects of three open-label manualized Experimental Sessions of therapy assisted by flexible doses of MDMA. Initial doses per Experimental Session include 80 mg or 120 mg of MDMA compounded with lactose, followed 1.5 to 2 hours later by a supplemental half-dose (40 mg or 60 mg). Total amounts of MDMA to be administered per Experimental Session range from 80 mg to 180 mg. This ~12-week Treatment Period is preceded by three Preparatory Sessions. During the Treatment Period, each Experimental Session is followed by three Integrative Sessions of non-drug psychotherapy. The Primary Outcome measure is the change in Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM 5 (CAPS-5) total severity scores from Baseline to Primary Endpoint (Visit 19).

Intervention / Treatment

  • Drug: MDMA
  • Behavioral: Psychotherapy
  • Behavioral: Therapy

Condition or Disease

  • PTSD

Phase

Study Design

Study type: Interventional
Status: Completed
Study results: Has Results
Age: 18 Years and older   (Adult, Older Adult)
Enrollment: 38 ()
Funded by: Other

Masking

Clinical Trial Dates

Start date: Dec 08, 2017
Primary Completion: Aug 10, 2019
Completion Date: Aug 10, 2019
Study First Posted: Sep 13, 2017
Results First Posted: Jul 29, 2021
Last Updated: Jun 08, 2022

Sponsors / Collaborators

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

PTSD is a serious debilitating disorder that negatively impacts a person's daily life. PTSD is a stress-related psychiatric condition that may occur following a traumatic event such as war, disaster, sexual abuse, violence, terrorism, and accidents. PTSD negatively impacts a person's daily life, resulting in relationship difficulties, difficulty in finding and maintaining a job, reduced cognitive and psychosocial functioning, substance abuse, high-cost healthcare use, and increased depression and suicide risk. Available PTSD treatments, including medications and therapy, effectively treat only a fraction of people who try them for adequate dose and duration. People with PTSD can be treated with psychotherapies and pharmacotherapies. In the past decade, there has been a growing amount of research into medications and other methods that may augment the effectiveness of psychotherapy for PTSD

3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine is a drug that releases serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain and indirectly increases levels of the neurohormones oxytocin, arginine vasopressin and cortisol. The combined neurobiological effects of MDMA increase compassion, reduce defenses and fear of emotional injury, and enhance communication and introspection. MDMA produces anxiolytic and prosocial effects, which counteract avoidance and hyperarousal in the context of therapy. A combined treatment of MDMA and therapy may be especially useful for treating PTSD.

This multi-site, open-label, Phase 2, lead-in study assesses the safety and effect of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted therapy in participants diagnosed with at least severe posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Therapy teams that have been identified and trained to work on the sponsor's planned Phase 3 studies will treat at least one open-label participant in this study.

This study will compare the effects of three open-label manualized Experimental Sessions of psychotherapy assisted by flexible doses of MDMA. Initial doses per Experimental Session include 80 mg or 120 mg of MDMA compounded with lactose, followed 1.5 to 2 hours later by a supplemental half-dose (40 mg or 60 mg). Total amounts of MDMA to be administered per Experimental Session range from 80 mg to 180 mg. This ~12-week Treatment Period is preceded by three Preparatory Sessions. During the Treatment Period, each Experimental Session is followed by three Integrative Sessions of non-drug psychotherapy. The Primary Outcome measure is the change in Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM 5 (CAPS-5) from Baseline to Primary Endpoint (Visit 19).

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All
Minimum Age: 18

More Details

NCT Number: NCT03282123
Other IDs: MP-16
Study URL: https://ClinicalTrials.gov/show/NCT03282123
Last updated: Jun 17, 2022