By InvitationPhase 2

MDMA Plus Exposure Therapy for PTSD

United States40 participantsStarted 2024-02-13

Plain-language summary

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating disorder. While effective treatments exist, some patients fail to receive the full benefits. Alternative treatment approaches are needed. 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a medicine associated with feelings of closeness and love for others, empathy, insightfulness, and feelings of peace or well-being. Recent research combining one or two doses of MDMA with psychotherapy has shown improvements in PTSD symptoms. For the present study, the researchers will investigate MDMA in combination with Prolonged Exposure therapy (PE), a gold-standard treatment for PTSD. All participants receive MDMA on the second day of a 10-day PE treatment program in which a PE therapy session occurs each day. This study will occur at the Emory Brain Health Center. Potential participants will be recruited via community advertising and mental health referrals. The research team will also collect psychophysiological data for exploratory analyses regarding how MDMA may improve PE treatment for PTSD. This is an important study as it is the first time MDMA will be combined with an evidence-based existing PTSD treatment. The study population will consist of people who meet the criteria for PTSD and are medically appropriate for MDMA administration.

Who can participate

Age range

21 Years – 70 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Meet criteria for PTSD * Willingness of the participant to sign a release for the investigators to communicate with their primary care or mental health providers if indicated * Are able to visually read and understand the English language and give written informed consent. * Are able to swallow pills. * Agree to have study visits and treatment sessions video and/or audio recorded, * Must provide a contact (relative, spouse, close friend, or another support person) who is willing and able to be reached by the investigators. * Must agree to inform the investigators within 48 hours of any medical conditions and procedures. * If able to become pregnant, must have a negative pregnancy test prior to study entry, at study entry, and prior to the Medicine Session. Must agree to use adequate birth control for a month prior to the Medicine session and through 10 days after the Medicine session. * Agree to the following lifestyle modifications: comply with requirements for fasting and refraining from certain medications prior to Medicine Session, and not participate in any other interventional clinical trials during the duration of the study and are driven home or to a hotel after the Medicine Session, and commit to medication dosing, therapy, and study procedures. Exclusion Criteria: * Are not able to give adequate informed consent. * Have previously participated in a Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) sponsored MDMA clinical trial. * …

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Effect of MDMA-assisted massed exposure therapy on clinician-rated PTSD symptoms

Timeframe: Baseline (day 1) and day 42 (+/- 2 days)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05746572

SponsorEmory University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-10-31

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More PTSD trials