September 7, 2025Mathew Herbert, Brian H. Blanco, Dimitri Perivoliotis et al.
preprint
There is promise for 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assistedpsychotherapy as a highly effective and durable treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD). However, the Food and Drug Administration rejected MDMA-assisted psychotherapy inits current form, expressing concerns about the lack of standardization and empirical basis ofpsychotherapy methods. This highlights the need to...
3,4-methelenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) can be effective in treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in controlled trials, potentially secondary to MDMA’s effects on neural circuits implicated in fear and reward. Although anxiety, stress, and fear-based disorders involve maladaptation of the neural circuits processing fear, threat, and reward, no studies have tested MDMA’s therapeutic...
Emerging evidence suggests that 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy may be a promising intervention for chronic pain. We designed the Ecstasy for Alleviating Severe Chronic Neuropathic Pain (EASE-Pain) trial, a randomized controlled trial comparing MDMA with an active placebo (methylphenidate) for pain relief. We sought to conduct a prospective preference assessment...
ABSTRACT The war in Ukraine has led to widespread trauma, with 6.4 million people suffering from severe, chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study evaluates the cost‐effectiveness and societal impact of implementing modified group MDMA‐assisted therapy (MAT), with supplemental individual therapy for PTSD treatment in Ukraine. Using a decision analysis model, we estimated clinical...
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has become one of the most common psychiatric diagnosis in the United States specifically within the veteran population. The current treatment options for this debilitating diagnosis include trauma-focused psychotherapies along with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI). 1 MDMA has recently...
This commentary examines a recent Lykos Therapeutics-funded cost-effectiveness analysis of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD following FDA's 2024 decision to decline approval. While methodologically rigorous in its use of empirical trial data, the study has two critical limitations that undermine its relevance to healthcare decision-makers: an inappropriate comparison to placebo-based therapy...
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), commonly called ecstasy, is a synthetic stimulant popular among young adults. Although its psychoactive effects are sought after, MDMA can lead to serious complications, including neurological and cardiovascular crises. Severe toxicity, although uncommon, may result in cerebral edema, hyponatremia, seizures, or death. We describe the case of a...
The resurgence of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy marks a pivotal evolution in mental health treatment, challenging traditional paradigms by integrating compounds such as psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, and ketamine into clinical practice. Historically marginalized due to regulatory and societal concerns, these agents are now gaining recognition for their unique neurobiological mechanisms and...
MDMA, commonly known as "ecstasy," is widely used in clubs and at festivals, earning its reputation as a "party drug." The increasing demand for rapid on-site dose estimation of MDMA in tablets arises from the need of various stakeholders, including law enforcement, emergency services, and public health officials, to respond appropriately to potential public safety risks and incidents. This...
Despite recent clinical and research interest, medical use of psychedelics has not been legalised in most jurisdictions. The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration rescheduled methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in July 2023 to permit authorised prescribing of MDMA for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) outside of the clinical trial setting. This manuscript describes the development of...