European Journal of Psychotraumatology
December 1, 2026
Philip Gerrans, Hugh McGovern, Jakob Hohwy et al.
Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) involves lasting difficulties with emotions, self-concept, and relationships, beyond typical PTSD symptoms. This review proposes a neurocognitive explanation based on predictive processing and self-modelling, focusing on how the brain's insula integrates bodily signals, emotions, and self-awareness. The authors suggest that C-PTSD arises from maladaptive predictions shaped by prolonged interpersonal trauma, leading to unstable self-regulation. They examine MDMA-assisted psychotherapy as one intervention that may temporarily alter emotional salience, trust, and self-related thinking. The framework generates testable hypotheses about self-modelling in C-PTSD and offers guidance for developing treatments that target affective regulation and self-referential processing.
Translational Psychiatry
July 11, 2026
Moira G. Semple, Sarah E. Mennenga, Ryan Smith et al.
Ketamine and MDMA, compounds known as psychoplastogens, show therapeutic potential for mood and trauma-related disorders, but their molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. In a study analyzing blood samples from 20 ketamine-treated participants and saliva samples from 16 MDMA-treated participants, DNA methylation changes were examined using a Brain-Epigenome-Wide Association Study targeting brain-relevant genes. Ketamine was associated with 405 significantly altered genes and 169 functional networks, while MDMA was linked to 346 altered genes and 183 networks. Both compounds converged on pathways related to neuroplasticity and neuroimmune regulation, suggesting they induce peripheral epigenetic changes that engage molecular pathways relevant to psychiatric health.
Scientific Reports
July 11, 2026
Monnica T. Williams, Sonya C. Faber, Jordan Sloshower et al.
A small preliminary study of five diverse individuals found that MDMA-assisted therapy significantly reduced trauma symptoms related to discrimination. Scores on the Trauma Symptoms of Discrimination Scale dropped by an average of 38% after treatment, a large effect. All participants, who had experienced multiple forms of discrimination including gender, racial, and sexual orientation bias, reported marked improvement. The results suggest MDMA-assisted therapy may help alleviate discrimination-related trauma in marginalized populations, though the small sample size calls for cautious interpretation and further research with larger, more diverse groups.
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
July 7, 2026
Combined use of MDMA and SSRIs may increase the risk of serotonin syndrome, though evidence is limited or indirect. Healthcare providers are advised to remain alert for symptoms of this condition and to discourage such drug interactions.
Mol Psychiatry
July 7, 2026
Axel F. Rosado, Abigail L. Yu, Jen-Hau Yang et al.
Psilocybin and MDMA are both psychedelic drugs but produce different behavioral effects. MDMA, but not psilocybin, raises both serotonin and norepinephrine in the medial prefrontal cortex. Blocking norepinephrine release reveals head-twitch responses (a rodent correlate of psychedelic effects) from MDMA, suggesting that noradrenergic signaling opposes serotonin 2A receptor effects. Artificially raising norepinephrine also reduces psilocybin-induced head-twitch responses. Activating the noradrenergic alpha-2 receptor alone suppresses these responses, even in mice lacking the locus coeruleus, indicating action via heteroreceptors. Importantly, alpha-2 receptor activation does not block psilocybin's antidepressant-like effects in the forced swim test. This suggests that side effects of serotonin 2A activation can be reduced without losing therapeutic benefits.
July 5, 2026
Mark Groeneveld
preprint
A practical manual for solo and guided MDMA therapy, grounded in a mechanistic framework of memory reconsolidation, predictive processing, complex system dynamics, and the defense cascade model, explains how MDMA therapy can durably improve mental illnesses by enabling the unlearning of inaccurate mental models. It provides evidence-based guidance on safety, session preparation, troubleshooting, and long-term healing, extending beyond clinical illness to address mental models that hinder community relationships, cognitive flexibility, and ethical reasoning. The manual emphasizes scientific rigor, transparency, and respect for autonomy, and includes discussion of tradeoffs between practitioner- and self-guidance.
Asclepius International Journal of Scientific Health Science
July 5, 2026
Pedro Martins Rabelo
A systematic review of eight randomized controlled trials found that psilocybin (25 mg) produced clinically significant reductions in depressive symptoms on the MADRS and QIDS-SR‑16 scales in treatment-resistant depression, while MDMA‑assisted therapy reduced CAPS‑5 scores in post‑traumatic stress disorder, with 67–71% of participants no longer meeting diagnostic criteria after treatment. Both substances had acceptable safety profiles with mostly transient adverse events. Direct comparative meta‑analysis was not possible due to clinical and methodological heterogeneity. Limitations include small samples, blinding difficulties, and lack of long‑term follow‑up.
Journal of Affective Disorders Reports
July 1, 2026
Abigail E. Calder, Vincent J Diehl, Bernd Hinney et al.
People who planned to use serotonergic psychedelics or MDMA in naturalistic settings reported lower neuroticism four weeks later, with the largest reductions in shame and feelings of tension. One week after use, they rated citizenship, family, intimate relationships, and spirituality as more important; only family remained elevated at four weeks. Serotonergic psychedelics were linked to greater increases in spirituality than MDMA. The findings suggest that both types of substances can produce lasting decreases in neuroticism and transient shifts in personal values, with family values showing the most persistent change.
Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology
July 1, 2026
Karthika Kasiviswanathan, Dinuli Nilaweera, M Morando et al.
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy (MDMA-AP) may help treat not only PTSD but also complex PTSD and borderline personality disorder. A systematic review of 24 studies involving 335 participants found that most reported reduced PTSD symptoms after MDMA-AP, with some noting decreased dissociative symptoms at higher doses. Although no studies directly assessed MDMA-AP for complex PTSD or borderline personality disorder, improvements in emotional regulation, interpersonal functioning, identity coherence, and abandonment concerns were reported. Adverse drug reactions were mild to moderate, though specific safety concerns remain. These findings offer preliminary insights for future research and clinical considerations.
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
July 1, 2026
Denis Arikci, Joran Borgulya, Isabelle Straumann et al.
1 citation
In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial, 24 healthy adults received three doses of 2C-B (10, 20, and 30 mg), 125 mg MDMA, and 25 mg psilocybin. The 30 mg dose of 2C-B produced subjective effects comparable to MDMA but weaker than psilocybin, and increased emotional empathy similarly to MDMA. Only psilocybin caused bad drug effects and anxiety. MDMA produced the greatest cardiovascular stimulation, followed by psilocybin and then 2C-B. Only MDMA raised plasma oxytocin and neurophysin I. The average subjective effect duration of 30 mg 2C-B was 4.9 hours, similar to MDMA (4.8 h) and shorter than psilocybin (6.1 h). 2C-B had a plasma elimination half-life of about 1.3 hours.