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MDMA-facilitated cognitive-behavioural conjoint therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: an uncontrolled trial.

Candice M Monson, Anne C Wagner, Ann T Mithoefer, Rachel E Liebman, Allison A. Feduccia, Lisa Jerome, Berra Yazar-Klosinski, Amy Emerson, Rick Doblin, Michael C Mithoefer

European Journal of Psychotraumatology December 7, 2020 DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2020.1840123 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Pilot study Peer reviewed
Sample size 6
Population Couples in which one partner was diagnosed with PTSD
Intervention MDMA-facilitated cognitive-behavioural conjoint therapy
Duration 7-week intervention
Topics MDMA PTSD
Keywords Cognitive-behavioural Conjoint Couple MDMA-Assisted Therapy MDMA MDMA-Facilitated Sessions Approach Healing Well-being PTSD Treatment PTSD Trauma Symptoms Improvements Relationships Relational Partner Adjustment Happiness
Citations 90
Key points MDMA-facilitated CBCT was safe and associated with large improvements in PTSD symptoms, relationship adjustment, and partner well-being.

Abstract

Cognitive-behavioural conjoint therapy (CBCT) for PTSD has been shown to improve PTSD, relationship adjustment, and the health and well-being of partners. MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) has been used to facilitate an individual therapy for PTSD. This study was an initial test of the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of MDMA-facilitated CBCT. Six couples with varying levels of baseline relationship satisfaction in which one partner was diagnosed with PTSD participated in a condensed version of the 15-session CBCT protocol delivered over 7 weeks. There were two sessions in which both members of the couple were administered MDMA. All couples completed the treatment protocol, and there were no serious adverse events in either partner. There were significant improvements in clinician-assessed, patient-rated, and partner-rated PTSD symptoms (pre- to post-treatment/follow-up effect sizes ranged from d = 1.85-3.59), as well as patient depression, sleep, emotion regulation, and trauma-related beliefs. In addition, there were significant improvements in patient and partner-rated relationship adjustment and happiness (d =.64-2.79). These results are contextualized in relation to prior results from individual MDMA-facilitated psychotherapy and CBCT for PTSD alone. MDMA holds promise as a facilitator of CBCT to achieve more robust and broad effects on individual and relational functioning in those with PTSD and their partners.

Comparable studies

Other non-randomized and open-label trials on MDMA for PTSD, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Durability of improvement in post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and absence of harmful effects or drug dependency after 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy: a prospective long-term follow-up study. Adults with chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD 2013 Long-term follow-up of a completed trial n = 19
Culturally informed research design issues in a study for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder People of color with posttraumatic stress disorder 2019 Phase 2 open-label multisite study
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy for victims of sexual abuse with severe post-traumatic stress disorder: an open label pilot study in Brazil. Patients with PTSD secondary to sexual abuse 2021 Open-label clinical trial n = 3
Relational and Growth Outcomes Following Couples Therapy With MDMA for PTSD. Romantic dyads where one partner had PTSD 2021 Pilot trial n = 6
Scaling Up: Multisite Open-Label Clinical Trials of MDMA-Assisted Therapy for Severe Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Participants with severe PTSD 2021 Open-label multi-site clinical trial n = 37

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