Addiction (Abingdon, England)
December 1, 2025
Zachary Bryant, Kirsten Morley, Jessica A Kerr et al.
MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine or "Ecstasy") is the fourth-most used illicit substance globally. While previous research found links between MDMA use and mental health outcomes, the direction and nature of this relationship remain unclear. This study assessed whether MDMA use in early adulthood increases the risk of anxiety or depression in mid-30s. A longitudinal, population-based...
Cureus
December 1, 2025
Paweł Liszka, Agata Ogórek, Klaudia M Olejnik-Chlewicka et al.
Classic psychedelics and related substances, such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), have again become a focus of interest in psychiatry as potential therapeutic tools. The aim of this paper is to review current data on their mechanisms of action, clinical applications in the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, addictions and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as to...
European Journal of Psychotraumatology
December 1, 2025
Gabrielle Agin-Liebes, Richard J. Zeifman, Jennifer Mitchell
11 citations
Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe condition often complicated by co-occurring disorders, such as major depression, alcohol use disorder, and substance use disorders. A well-powered phase 3 randomized, placebo-controlled trial has shown that MDMA-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) may be an effective treatment for severe PTSD. However, the psychological mechanisms driving the...
Journal of Psychiatric Research
November 27, 2025
Tor-Morten Kvam, Ivar W Goksøyr, Joanna Róg et al.
3 citations
BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of global disability, and current treatments often fail to provide sustained effectiveness. MDMA-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) is a promising treatment for MDD. However, the long-term effects are not known. OBJECTIVES: To examine the long-term effects of MDMA-AT for MDD. METHODS: Twelve participants with MDD and an ongoing moderate to...
The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science
July 11, 2025
Tor-Morten Kvam, Ivar W Goksøyr, Justyna Rog et al.
6 citations
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) has shown promising safety and efficacy in phase 3 studies of post-traumatic stress disorder, but has not been investigated for a primary diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD). We aimed to explore the proof of principle and safety as a first study with MDMA-AT for MDD, and to provide preliminary efficacy data. Twelve...
British Journal of Pharmacology
June 15, 2025
Daniël Hoyer
9 citations
Currently, the most actively investigated rapidly acting antidepressants, anxiolytics and/or anti PTSD agents, include psychedelics e.g. psilocybin, LSD, N , N ‐dimethyltryptamine, ayahuasca; non‐hallucinogenic entactogens, e.g. MDMA; psychoplastogens which rapidly promote neuroplasticity, e.g. ibogaine, ketamine and esketamine; and other atypicals e.g. dextromorphan/bupropion, esmethadone....
Current Medicinal Chemistry
June 2, 2025
Jinlong Zhang, Xingxing Dang, Jiang Lin et al.
The incidence of psychiatric disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression, has been steadily increasing, while current treatment approaches remain limited in efficacy. As a result, there is an urgent need to explore more effective therapeutic interventions. In recent years, MDMA (3,4- methylenedioxymethamphetamine)-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) has emerged as a...
Current Psychiatry Reports
February 1, 2025
Jamarie Geller, Eric Whitney
3 citations
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...
The American journal of psychiatry
2025
Aaron Wolfgang, Gregory A. Fonzo, Joshua C. Gray et al.
47 citations
MDMA (i.e., 3,4-methylenedixoymethamphetamine), commonly known as "Ecstasy" or "Molly," has been used since the 1970s both in recreational and therapeutic settings. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designated MDMA-Assisted Therapy (MDMA-AT) as a Breakthrough Therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in 2017, and the FDA is requiring an additional phase 3 trial after rejecting the...
The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry
October 1, 2024
Zohaib Nadeem, Stephen Parker, Hugh McGovern et al.
19 citations
Despite rapid advances in psychedelic sciences and the increasing number of countries legalizing psychedelics for the treatment of mental illnesses, the attitudes, knowledge and readiness of both mental health consumers and the general population remain largely unknown. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Australians, targeting individuals with mental illness as potential mental health...