Posttraumatic Growth After MDMA‐Assisted Psychotherapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Ingmar Gorman, Alexander Belser, Lisa Jerome, Colin Hennigan, Ben Shechet, Scott Hamilton, Berra Yazar-Klosinski, Amy Emerson, Allison A. Feduccia
Journal of Traumatic Stress February 19, 2020 Expression of concern DOI: 10.1002/jts.22479 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pooled analysis of three phase 2 clinical trials with triple-blind crossover designs Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | Adults meeting DSM-IV-R criteria for PTSD with CAPS-IV score above 50 and prior inadequate response to treatment |
| Dose | 75-125 mg MDMA (active); 0-40 mg MDMA (control) |
| Duration | Primary endpoint (timing not specified), treatment exit, and 12-month follow-up |
| Measures | Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-IV) |
| Topics | MDMA Psychedelic-assisted therapy PTSD |
| Keywords | Placebo Posttraumatic stress Posttraumatic growth Clinical endpoint Clinical trial Clinical psychology |
| Citations | 43 |
| Post-publication review | 1 comment on PubPeer (opens in new tab) · last active August 2021 |
| Key findings | MDMA-assisted psychotherapy produced large-magnitude increases in posttraumatic growth and reductions in PTSD symptom severity, with two-thirds of participants no longer meeting PTSD criteria at 12-month follow-up. |
Abstract
Abstract 3,4‐Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)–assisted psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been shown to significantly reduce clinical symptomatology, but posttraumatic growth (PTG), which consists of positive changes in self‐perception, interpersonal relationships, or philosophy of life, has not been studied with this treatment. Participant data ( n = 60) were pooled from three Phase 2 clinical studies employing triple‐blind crossover designs. Participants were required to meet DSM‐IV‐R criteria for PTSD with a score higher than 50 on the Clinician‐Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS‐IV) as well as previous inadequate response to pharmacological and/or psychotherapeutic treatment. Data were aggregated into two groups: an active MDMA dose group (75–125 mg of MDMA; n = 45) or placebo/active control (0–40 mg of MDMA; n = 15). Measures included the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) and the CAPS‐IV, which were administered at baseline, primary endpoint, treatment exit, and 12‐month follow‐up. At primary endpoint, the MDMA group demonstrated more PTG, Hedges’ g = 1.14, 95% CI [0.49, 1.78], p < .001; and a larger reduction in PTSD symptom severity, Hedges’ g = 0.88, 95% CI [−0.28, 1.50], p < .001, relative to the control group. Relative to baseline, at the 12‐month follow‐up, within‐subject PTG was higher, p < .001; PTSD symptom severity scores were lower, p < .001; and two‐thirds of participants (67.2%) no longer met criteria for PTSD. MDMA‐assisted psychotherapy for PTSD resulted in PTG and clinical symptom reductions of large‐magnitude effect sizes. Results suggest that PTG may provide a new mechanism of action warranting further study.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on MDMA and psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 37
- Psychedelics in Psychiatry: Neuroplastic, Immunomodulatory, and Neurotransmitter Mechanisms Pharmacological Reviews December 16, 2020
- Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A State-of-the-art Review. Current Neuropharmacology 2024
- Long-term follow-up outcomes of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of PTSD: a longitudinal pooled analysis of six phase 2 trials. Psychopharmacology August 1, 2020
- Efficacy and safety of psychedelics for the treatment of mental disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Research May 1, 2024
- MDMA-facilitated cognitive-behavioural conjoint therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: an uncontrolled trial. European Journal of Psychotraumatology December 7, 2020
and 32 more in the library
Cites 19
- The safety and efficacy of {+/-}3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy in subjects with chronic, treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder: the first randomized controlled pilot study. Journal of Psychopharmacology July 19, 2010
- Human Pharmacology of MDMA Therapeutic Drug Monitoring March 19, 2004
- 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans, firefighters, and police officers: a randomised, double-blind, dose-response, phase 2 clinical trial. The Lancet Psychiatry May 1, 2018
- Subjective Reports of the Effects of MDMA in a Clinical Setting Journal of Psychoactive Drugs October 1, 1986
- A randomized, controlled pilot study of MDMA (±3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine)-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of resistant, chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Journal of Psychopharmacology October 31, 2012
and 14 more in the library