MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy in People With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

This randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study assessed the safety and effectiveness of MDMA-assisted therapy among people with chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD, including veterans. Participants were assigned to receive either MDMA-assisted therapy or placebo with therapy 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 HCl followed by a supplemental dose of 62.5 mg of MDMA HCl, 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 non-drug preparatory therapy sessions and non-drug integration therapy sessions.

During Stage 2 of the study, the blind was broken and participants assigned to receive MDMA-assisted therapy in Stage 1 underwent a third open-label experimental session of MDMA-assisted therapy. Participants assigned placebo with therapy 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 experimental session in Stage 1 and four to six weeks after the second MDMA-assisted therapy 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 MDMA-assisted therapy versus placebo with therapy.

Inclusion criteria

• Have current PTSD (within the past 6 months) in response to crime victimization, including childhood sexual or physical abuse, or meet criteria for PTSD in response to combat;
• Have a CAPS score showing moderate to severe PTSD symptoms;
• They must either:

• Have had at least one unsuccessful attempt at treatment for PTSD with a SSRI and psychotherapy;
• Be a veteran with PTSD symptoms that have endured for no less than one year but no more than five years
• Be at least 18 years old;
• Must be generally healthy;
• Willing to remain overnight at the study site;
• Agree to have transportation home the morning after experimental sessions;
• Are willing to be contacted via telephone for all necessary telephone contacts;
• Must have a negative pregnancy test if able to bear children and agree to use an effective form of birth control;
• Are proficient in reading English;

Exclusion criteria

• Are pregnant or nursing, or are able to bear children and are not practicing an effective means of birth control;
• Weigh less than 50 kg or more than 105 kg;
• Are unable to give adequate informed consent;
• Prior use of "Ecstasy" (illicit drug preparations purported to contain MDMA) more than 5 times or at any time within the previous 6 months;
• Have a history of certain excluded medical disorders.