Incorporating MDMA as an Adjunct in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy With Clients Impacted by Trauma or PTSD
Katie Almond, Robert Allan
The Family Journal July 1, 2019 DOI: 10.1177/1066480719852360 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstractAbstract
This article explores incorporating 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) as an adjunct in emotionally focused couples therapy (EFT) with clients in which at least one participant has endured a traumatic experience and reports symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Despite classification as a Schedule I drug on the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), in 2017 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration designated MDMA as a “breakthrough therapy” in the treatment of PTSD and approved plans for a Phase 3 clinical trial sponsored by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. This article aims to integrate previous and current research involving the therapeutic use of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy into the treatment of PTSD with the systemic, evidence-based approach of EFT.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on MDMA for PTSD, 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 | |
| MDMA-assisted therapy: challenges, clinical trials, and the future of MDMA in treating behavioral disorders. | 2025 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Development of an Australian Clinical Practice Guideline on methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted Psychotherapy for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. People with post-traumatic stress disorder | 2025 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Including Sexually and Gender Diverse Populations in 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Trial Research. | 2024 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |