Couple Therapy With MDMA-Proposed Pathways of Action.
Frontiers in Psychology November 11, 2021 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.733456 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | MDMA-assisted couple therapy |
| Topics | Psychedelic-assisted therapy MDMA |
| Keywords | MDMA Therapy MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy Drug-assisted therapy Entactogen therapy Couple therapy Relationship therapy Marriage counseling Couples counseling Relationship healing Family therapy Emotional connection Empathy Communication Bonding Relationship dynamics Emotional intimacy Therapeutic outcomes Mental health Psychological well-being Psychotherapy results Treatment efficacy |
| Citations | 13 |
| Key points | Proposes that MDMA's effects on empathy, communication, social connection, and attachment can be harnessed to facilitate systems-level and interpersonal healing in couple therapy. |
Abstract
MDMA's first identified potential as a therapeutic catalyst was for couple therapy. Early work in the 1970s and 1980s explored its potential amongst seasoned psychotherapists and their clients. With the completion of the first pilot trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy with couples for PTSD, and as the possibility of conducting MDMA-assisted psychotherapy trials expands due to new regulatory frameworks, we have an opportunity to explore and investigate how and why MDMA-assisted couples therapy works. This theoretical paper will explore the neurobiological and neurochemical effects of MDMA in a relational context, the emotional, behavioral, cognitive and somatic effects within a dyadic frame, and how empathy, communication, perception of social connection/support, non-avoidance, openness, attachment/safety, bonding/social intimacy and relationship satisfaction, are all impacted by MDMA, and can be harnessed to facilitate systems-level and interpersonal healing and growth. A model to support MDMA-assisted couple therapy is introduced, and future directions, including implications for intervention development and delivery, will be elucidated.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on MDMA and psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The potential use of N-methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDMA) assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of eating disorders comorbid with PTSD. | 2021 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD in adolescents: rationale, potential, risks, and considerations. Adolescents with PTSD | 2024 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Informed Consent in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy. | 2024 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| MDMA-assisted psychotherapy | 2018 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The “Third” Eye: Ethics of Video Recording in the Context of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy | 2023 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 11
- Psychedelic therapy in the treatment of addiction: the past, present and future Frontiers in Psychiatry June 12, 2023
- Preliminary evidence for the importance of therapeutic alliance in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder. European Journal of Psychotraumatology 2024
- Co-use of MDMA with psilocybin/LSD may buffer against challenging experiences and enhance positive experiences Scientific Reports August 22, 2023
- A novel framework for ketamine-assisted couple therapy. Frontiers in Psychiatry 2024
- MDMA-assisted therapy is associated with a reduction in chronic pain among people with post-traumatic stress disorder Frontiers in Psychiatry November 3, 2022
and 6 more in the library
Cites 43
- Subjective Reports of the Effects of MDMA in a Clinical Setting Journal of Psychoactive Drugs October 1, 1986
- MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of PTSD: study design and rationale for phase 3 trials based on pooled analysis of six phase 2 randomized controlled trials. Psychopharmacology September 1, 2019
- Cardiovascular and neuroendocrine effects and pharmacokinetics of 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine in humans. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics July 1, 1999
- MDMA enhances emotional empathy and prosocial behavior Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience October 4, 2013
- Oxytocin-dependent reopening of a social reward learning critical period with MDMA Nature April 3, 2019
and 38 more in the library