A Review of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-Assisted Psychotherapy
Ben Sessa, David Nutt, Laurie Higbed
Frontiers in Psychiatry March 20, 2019 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00138 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | MDMA-assisted psychotherapy |
| Topics | MDMA Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Psychotherapist |
| Citations | 141 |
| Key findings | MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD is in Phase 3 trials and may become a licensed medicine by 2021, with additional potential applications for anxiety in autism and alcohol use disorder. |
Abstract
This paper provides a brief review of the history, proposed pharmacological mechanisms, safety issues, and clinical applications of the medicine 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Most clinical MDMA research in patients to date has focused on MDMA-assisted psychotherapy to treat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this review paper other potential therapeutic applications for MDMA therapy are described, including contemporary studies treating anxiety associated with autism and the authors' ongoing study exploring the potential role for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy to treat alcohol use disorder. MDMA therapy for PTSD is now entering the final Phase 3 stage of drug development, with a target set for licensing by the FDA and EMA in 2021. This means that if clinical efficacy criteria are achieved, MDMA would become a medicine.