Can 3,4,-methylenedioxymethamphetamine therapy be used to treat alcohol use disorder?
Journal of Psychedelic Studies April 1, 2017 DOI: 10.1556/2054.01.2016.003 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Addiction MDMA |
| Keywords | Psychotherapist Abstinence Clinical psychology |
| Key points | Proposes that MDMA-assisted psychotherapy could be a useful candidate for treating alcohol use disorder due to MDMA's capacity for reducing fear and facilitating engagement in therapy around past trauma. |
Abstract
Treating people with alcohol use disorder has been an important target area for psychedelic research – both in the first studies of the 1950s and during the Psychedelic Renaissance of the last 10 years. To date, most studies have looked at the classical psychedelic drugs as adjuncts to psychotherapy; with attention paid to the psychospiritual aspect of the experience as a central therapeutic process in effecting abstinence from drinking. Psychotherapy assisted with 3,4,-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has never been explored for treating alcohol use disorder. However, MDMA has some unique pharmacological characteristics – particularly its capacity for reducing the fear response and facilitating engagement in therapy around past psychological trauma – that could make it a useful candidate for tackling the core features of alcohol use disorder. This paper briefly describes the burden of alcohol use disorders and the history of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy in the field of addictions. It gives the theoretical and experimental justification for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treating people with alcohol use disorder and introduces a forthcoming study from Bristol and London, UK, exploring the role for MDMA in treating a person with this challenging condition.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on MDMA for addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Why MDMA therapy for alcohol use disorder? And why now? | 2018 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Synthetic Drugs and Behavioural Addictions: LSD, MDMA and Digital Toxicity | 2026 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Using Drugs to Treat Drug Dependence: Exploring the Use of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for Individuals with PTSD and Concurrent Substance Use | 2021 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Contribution of Impulsivity and Serotonin Receptor Neuroadaptations to the Development of an MDMA ('Ecstasy') Substance Use Disorder. | 2017 | Theoretical paper (narrative synthesis of human and animal literature) |
Citations in the library
Cites 38
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence: A proof-of-concept study Journal of Psychopharmacology January 13, 2015
- Pilot study of the 5-HT2AR agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction Journal of Psychopharmacology September 11, 2014
- Mystical experiences occasioned by the hallucinogen psilocybin lead to increases in the personality domain of openness Journal of Psychopharmacology September 28, 2011
- 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
and 33 more in the library