MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD: Growing evidence for memory effects mediating treatment efficacy.
Mesud Sarmanlu, Kim P. C. Kuypers, Patrick Vizeli, Timo L Kvamme
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry January 10, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110843 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | MDMA PTSD Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Memory Psychotherapy Trauma |
| Citations | 17 |
| Key findings | The efficacy of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD may be influenced by MDMA's effects on fear extinction and fear reconsolidation. |
Abstract
The application of MDMA in conjunction with psychotherapy has in recent years seen a resurgence of clinical, scientific, and public interest in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Clinical trials have shown promising safety and efficacy, but the mechanisms underlying this treatment form remain largely unestablished. This article explores recent preclinical and clinical evidence suggesting that the treatment's efficacy may be influenced by the mnemonic effects of MDMA. We review data on the effects of MDMA on fear extinction and fear reconsolidation and the utility of these processes for PTSD treatment. We corroborate our findings by incorporating research from cognitive psychology and psychopharmacology and offer recommendations for future research.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on MDMA and psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 14
- Self-Improvising Memory: A Perspective on Memories as Agential, Dynamically Reinterpreting Cognitive Glue Entropy May 31, 2024
- Stimulant and hallucinogenic novel psychoactive substances; an update Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology November 2, 2023
- Role of the gut-brain axis via the subdiaphragmatic vagus nerve in stress resilience of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine in mice exposed to chronic restrain stress. Neurobiology of Disease December 1, 2023
- MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD in adolescents: rationale, potential, risks, and considerations. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry November 1, 2024
- Psychedelics: A review of their effects on recalled aversive memories and fear/anxiety expression in rodents Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews September 20, 2024
and 9 more in the library
Cites 75
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and 70 more in the library