Psychologists’ attitudes towards the use of MDMA in therapy may be shaped by personal experiences
Rita Ildiko Csako, Daniel Shepherd, Emese E. Vitalis, David Cullen
Clinical Psychologist August 13, 2026 DOI: 10.1080/13284207.2026.2703685 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 74 |
| Population | Registered psychologists in Aotearoa New Zealand |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Key findings | Nearly half of surveyed psychologists reported prior MDMA use, and those with experience showed differences in attitudes toward MDMA's therapeutic and recreational uses compared to those without. Overall attitudes toward MDMA-AT were broadly favorable. |
Abstract
Objective: MDMA-Assisted Therapy (MDMA-AT) has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of several mental health conditions, most notably post-traumatic stress disorder. To better understand what shapes the attitudes of healthcare professionals we investigated whether psychologists’ own experience with MDMA impacts the attitudes towards the therapeutic and recreational uses of MDMA.
Method: The study involved 74 registered psychologists in Aotearoa New Zealand who participated in an anonymous online survey aimed at gathering data on their understanding of and attitudes towards the therapeutic and recreational uses of MDMA.
Results: Nearly half of the surveyed professionals reported previous experience with MDMA, either recreationally or therapeutically. Noteworthy differences were identified in various aspects of attitudes between therapists with prior MDMA use and those without such experience. Overall, the surveyed psychologists expressed broadly favourable attitudes towards MDMA-AT.
Conclusion: Consistent with previous studies, this research emphasises the imperative need for education grounded in scientific evidence and professional training on the therapeutic use of MDMA for practicing psychologists and other health professionals. Such education and training are essential for better understanding MDMA-AT, mitigating misinformation and decreasing stigma associated with it.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on MDMA, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recreational MDMA use in Sydney: a profile of ‘Ecstasy’ users and their experiences with the drug Recreational Ecstasy users recruited via snowball peer network | 1992 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 100 |
| Reducedin vivobinding to the serotonin transporter in the cerebral cortex of MDMA (‘ecstasy’) users Male regular ecstasy users and well-matched controls | 1999 | Cross-sectional association study | n = 20 |
| Patterns of simultaneous polysubstance use in drug using university students Drug-using university students | 2006 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 149 |
| Patterns of recreational drug use at dance events in Edinburgh, Scotland Drug users at dance events in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, aged 16-47, 80% between 18 and... | 2001 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 122 |
| Acute, sub‐acute and long‐term subjective consequences of ‘ecstasy’ (MDMA) consumption in 430 regular users Regular MDMA users | 2003 | Cross-sectional study | n = 466 |
Citations in the library
Cites 69
- MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. Nature Medicine June 1, 2021
- 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
- Global Street Food: la cocina de la calle Diseño interior 2009
- 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
- MDMA-assisted therapy for moderate to severe PTSD: a randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. Nature Medicine October 1, 2023
and 64 more in the library