MDMA-Assisted Massed Exposure Therapy for PTSD

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects many individuals, including military veterans and civilians exposed to trauma. While trauma-focused therapies like Prolonged Exposure (PE) are effective, many people do not fully recover, and current medications often have limited success.

This study will test whether combining PE therapy with a single dose of MDMA (a psychoactive drug) can improve PTSD treatment outcomes. Ninety-five participants with PTSD will be randomly assigned to receive either MDMA or a placebo during the second of ten PE therapy sessions, which are delivered over two weeks. Researchers will measure PTSD symptoms one month after treatment using a standardized interview.

The study will also explore how MDMA affects brain responses related to fear and emotional memory, which may help explain how it works. Early results from a pilot study suggest this combination may lead to large reductions in PTSD symptoms. This is the first clinical trial to formally test MDMA with PE therapy, and it may lead to new, more effective treatment options for PTSD.

Inclusion criteria

• PTSD diagnosis as assessed by Clinician-Administered Posttraumatic Stress Scale for DSM-5 - Revised (CAPS-5-R).
• Able to speak and read English (due to standardization of outcome measures).
• Willing to sign a release for the investigators to communicate with their primary care or mental health providers if indicated.
• Able to swallow pills.
• Agree to have study visits video and/or audio recorded, including Experimental Session, assessments, and non-drug therapy sessions.
• Willing to provide a contact (relative, spouse, close friend, or another support person) who is willing and able to be contacted by the investigators.
• Agree to inform the investigators within 48 hours of any medical conditions and procedures.
• If able to become pregnant, must have a negative pregnancy test before study entry, at study entry, and before the Medicine Session. Must agree to use adequate birth control for a month before the Medicine session and through 10 days after the Medicine Session.
• Agree to the following lifestyle modifications: comply with requirements for fasting and refraining from certain medications before the Medicine Session, and not participating in any other interventional clinical trials during the duration of the study, are driven home or to a hotel after the Medicine Session, and commit to medication dosing, therapy, and study procedures

Exclusion criteria

• Are not able to give adequate informed consent.
• Have previously participated in a Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) sponsored MDMA clinical trial.
• Have any current problem which, in the opinion of the investigator or study physician, might interfere with participation.
• Have hypersensitivity to any ingredient of the Investigational Medicinal Product (IMP).
• Upon review of medical or psychiatric history and psychiatric assessment, have any current or past diagnosis that would be considered a risk to participating in the study
• Requires ongoing psychiatric medication use with certain exceptions. Individuals may decide to taper psychiatric medications under the guidance of their local provider.
• Have a history of any medical condition that could make receiving MDMA dangerous because of increases in blood pressure and heart rate or any medical condition the study physician believes would pose a safety risk or interfere with the effects of the treatment. Any medical disorder judged by the investigator to significantly increase the risk of MDMA administration by any mechanism is exclusionary.
• Have any unstable medical condition that would interfere with participation.
• Have uncontrolled hypertension) documented on three separate occasions.
• Have Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or any other accessory pathway that has not been successfully eliminated by ablation.
• Have a history of ever having ventricular arrhythmia or any other abnormal heart rhythm that the study physician believes would pose a significant risk of participation.
• Have an abnormal finding on electrocardiogram
• Have a history of additional risk factors for Torsade de Pointes (e.g., heart failure, hypokalemia, family history of Long QT Syndrome).
• Require the use of concomitant medications that could impact the effects or safety of MDMA during the Medicine Session.
• Have symptomatic liver disease or significant liver enzyme elevations.
• Have a history of hyponatremia or hyperthermia.
• Weigh less than 48 kilograms (105 lbs.).
• Are pregnant or nursing
• Have engaged in ketamine-assisted therapy or used ketamine within 12 weeks of enrollment