MDMA-Assisted Massed Exposure Therapy for PTSD
Emory University
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the efficacy of 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine hydrochloride (MDMA) combined with Massed Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adult participants diagnosed with PTSD. This randomized, placebo-controlled trial will enroll 95 participants. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the combination of PE + MDMA lead to greater reduction in PTSD symptom severity from pre-treatment to one-month follow-up compared to PE + placebo? * Does PE + MDMA improve response efficiency and durability of PTSD symptom improvement compared to PE + placebo? * Does MDMA + PE enhance extinction retention and reduce amygdala threat reactivity, and are these changes associated with improved PTSD outcomes? Participants will: * Receive 10 sessions of Massed Prolonged Exposure therapy over two weeks * Be administered either 100 mg of MDMA or a placebo at Visit 2 * Undergo blinded independent evaluator assessments using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5-R (CAPS-5-R) at the one-month posttreatment follow-up
Description
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.…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 21–70 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
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…
Interventions
- Drug3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)
MDMA is a synthetic compound, commonly administered as MDMA hydrochloride (HCl). The drug will be administered in 100mg doses for a single session on Visit 2 out of 10- day study sessions over 2 weeks. MDMA is administered orally in capsule form and is taken under supervision in a controlled, therapeutic environment
- DrugPlacebo
Placebos will visually match the 3 MDMA capsules (40mg, 40mg, and 20mg).
- BehavioralMassed Prolonged Exposure (PE)
Massed exposure therapy will be conducted for 11 sessions, 10 daily sessions and an additional therapy session during V2. They will consist of repeated exposures to trauma memories (imaginal exposure) consistent with the manualized protocol for massed exposure therapy. Also consistent with this treatment manual, participants will listen to imaginal exposures outside of PE sessions for "homework."
Location
- Emory Brain Health CenterAtlanta, Georgia