Therapeutic Potential of MDMA- and Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy for Adolescent Depression and Trauma.
Jamarie Geller, Eric Whitney
Current Psychiatry Reports February 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-024-01577-2 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy MDMA-assisted psychotherapy |
| Topics | Depression Psychedelic-assisted therapy MDMA |
| Keywords | Adolescent psychiatry MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy Psychedelics Trauma Psychedelic medicine Hallucinogenic therapy Teen psychiatry Child psychiatry MDMA Treatment MDMA- |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for adult depression and MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for adult PTSD show promising outcomes, but no studies have examined these treatments in adolescents. |
Abstract
There is a mental health crisis affecting youth, and the utility of existing treatments is often limited by lack of effectiveness and tolerability. The aim of this review is to report on outcomes of clinical trials for psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for adults with depression and MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for adults with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and discuss recommendations for exploring these treatments in adolescent populations. There have been encouraging data supporting the use of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for depression, including previously treatment-resistant symptoms. MDMA-assisted psychotherapy is showing similar promise in treating PTSD, with excellent response and remission rates that appear durable. However, no studies have looked at the use of these treatments in younger patients. The safety and efficacy of psychedelic- and MDMA-assisted psychotherapies should be investigated in adolescents, especially considering the burden of untreated and undertreated psychiatric illness in youth, and the benefits of a potentially earlier, more effective, and more tolerable recovery process. Research and implementation should be tailored to the needs of this population, and equity and access should be considered at every stage. In this novel and rapidly evolving landscape, the psychiatric community is encouraged to advocate for safe, appropriate, and inclusive inquiry into, and application and scaling of these treatment models in adolescent patients.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on MDMA for depression, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered clinical studies investigating psychedelic drugs for psychiatric disorders. Registered clinical trials on clinicaltrials.gov evaluating psychedelics for... | 2021 | Review | n = 70 |
| Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in the Context of Serious Illness. Palliative care clinicians and patients | 2022 | Review | |
| MDMA and MDMA-Assisted Therapy. | 2025 | Review | |
| Role of Psychedelics in Treatment-Resistant Depression. | 2023 | Review | |
| Is it now time to prepare psychiatry for a psychedelic future? | 2024 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Substance use predictors of arrest and self-reported criminal behavior in the United States: The role of psychedelics and rarely used drugs Journal of Psychopharmacology April 16, 2026
- Through the Looking-Glass: A Scoping Review of Psychological Mechanisms of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy for Substance Use Disorders Current Addiction Reports September 2, 2026
Cites 46
- Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance Psychopharmacology July 7, 2006
- Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression. New England Journal of Medicine November 3, 2022
- 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
- Psychedelics and the essential importance of context. Journal of Psychopharmacology February 15, 2018
and 41 more in the library