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Home/Research/MDMA/Interpersonal Functioning & Social Connectedness

MDMA for Interpersonal Functioning & Social Connectedness

82 papers and 18 clinical trials exploring mdma as a treatment for interpersonal functioning & social connectedness.

Compoundempathogen

MDMA

MDMA is a synthetic empathogen that enhances monoamine release, producing prosocial and anxiolytic effects without frank hallucinosis. Two Phase III trials demonstrated significant PTSD symptom reductions, though FDA review raised concerns about blinding, durability, and safety characterisation.

Full MDMA profile
IndicationApproximately 300 million individuals worldwide experience issues with social connectedness and interpersonal relations.

Interpersonal Functioning & Social Connectedness

Research on psychedelics highlights their potential to enhance interpersonal functioning and social connectedness, particularly through compounds such as psilocybin and MDMA. These compounds may facilitate therapeutic outcomes in various mental health disorders by fostering emotional connectivity and empathy among individuals.

Full Interpersonal Functioning & Social Connectedness profile

Academic Research

82 papers
Paywallindividual

MDMA-Assisted Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder: A Seven-Month Follow-Up Proof of Principle Trial

This long-term follow-up (n=12) of participants with moderate-to-severe major depressive disorder who received MDMA-assisted therapy (two dosing sessions integrated with nine psychotherapy sessions) found significant reductions in depression severity and functional impairment at seven months compared to baseline, with improvements maintained from the post-treatment assessment and no increases in suicidal ideation.

Published
February 1, 2026
Journal
Journal of Psychiatric Research
Authors
Kvam, T. M., Goksøyr, I. W., Rog, J., van de Vooren, I. T. J., Stewart, L. H., Autran, I., Berthold-Losleben, M., Mørch-Johnsen, L., Holst, R., Røssberg, J. I., Clausen, I., Andreassen, O. A.
Open Accessindividual

The empathogen 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, but not methamphetamine, increases feelings of global trust

In two placebo-controlled studies, a single dose of MDMA (100 mg) increased participants’ feelings of global trust and marginally raised self-worth 90 minutes after a conversation, whereas methamphetamine (20 mg) produced no change. These results indicate MDMA uniquely enhances generalized social trust beyond lab-specific partners, supporting its potential social‑psychological clinical value.

Published
September 16, 2025
Journal
Journal of Psychopharmacology
Authors
Martinez, R. L., Radošić, N., Molla, H., De Wit, H., Lyubomirsky, S.
Open Accessindividual

MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for AUD: Bayesian analysis of WHO drinking risk level and exploratory analysis of drinking behavior and psychosocial functioning at 3 months follow-up

In an open‑label feasibility study of 14 recently detoxified participants, Bayesian analysis estimated a 55–63% probability that MDMA‑assisted psychotherapy produced a two‑level reduction in WHO drinking‑risk at 3‑month follow‑up, with preliminary reductions in alcohol craving and improvements in sleep and psychosocial functioning. The paper frames a harm‑reduction endpoint for AUD and provides early evidence that MDMA‑assisted psychotherapy may improve quality of life alongside reduced drinking.

Published
June 9, 2025
Journal
Alcohol and Alcoholism
Authors
Thurgur, H., Sessa, B., Higbed, L., O'brien, S., Durant, C., Wilson, S., Szigeti, B., Morgan, C. J. A., Nutt, D. J.
Open Accessindividual

Self-compassion mediates treatment effects in MDMA-assisted therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder

This secondary analysis (n=82) of a Phase III RCT of MDMA-assisted therapy found significant improvements in both uncompassionate self-responding and compassionate self-responding across all six Self-Compassion Scale subscales, most with large effect sizes. Changes in self-compassion fully mediated the reductions in PTSD severity and depressive symptoms observed with MDMA-AT versus placebo plus therapy, though no significant effects were seen for alcohol or substance use outcomes.

Published
May 7, 2025
Journal
European Journal of Psychotraumatology
Authors
Agin-Liebes, G. I., Zeifman, R. J., Mitchell, J.
Open Accessindividual

Acute effects of R-MDMA, S-MDMA, and racemic MDMA in a randomized double-blind cross-over trial in healthy participants

In a randomized double-blind crossover in 24 healthy participants, S‑MDMA (125 mg) produced stronger stimulant-like subjective and cardiovascular effects and greater increases in prolactin, cortisol and oxytocin than R‑MDMA (125 and 250 mg) and racemic MDMA (125 mg), while R‑MDMA did not elicit more psychedelic-like effects. Pharmacokinetic data showed much longer elimination half-lives for R‑MDMA and evidence of CYP2D6 inhibition, suggesting the differences reflect potency and dosing rather than qualitatively distinct acute effects.

Published
August 23, 2024
Journal
Neuropsychopharmacology
Authors
Straumann, I., Avedisian, I., Klaiber, A., Varghese, N., Eckert, A., Rudin, D., Luethi, D., Liechti, M. E.
Open Accessmeta

Methylenedioxymethamphetamine is a connectogen with empathogenic, entactogenic, and still further connective properties: It is time to reconcile “the great entactogen-empathogen debate”

This commentary on MDMA and MDMA-like substances discusses the terms empathogen (prosocial and empathetic effects) and entactogen (introspective and self-awareness effects). It proposes connectogen as a unified term, highlighting MDMA's ability to create a sense of connection with oneself, others, the present moment, the body, the world, and spiritual principles.

Published
July 28, 2024
Journal
Journal of Psychopharmacology
Authors
Stocker, K., Liechti, M. E.

Clinical Trials

18 trials
RecruitingPhase I

MDMA-Assisted Therapy for Mental Healthcare Providers

This Phase I, open-label trial (n=30) will study the psychological and biological effects of MDMA-assisted therapy in mental health providers in training, with a single experimental MDMA session (120 mg initial oral dose with optional 40 mg supplemental dose 1.5–2 hours later), plus preparatory and integration sessions.

Started
September 22, 2025
Type
interventional
Blinding
none
Randomized
No
Registry ID
NCT07102576
RecruitingPhase II

MDMA in Borderline Personality Disorder (MDMA in BPD)

This open-label trial (n=10) will investigate the effects of a single dose of MDMA on social cognition in adults with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).

Started
February 1, 2025
Type
interventional
Blinding
none
Randomized
No
Registry ID
NCT06683014
RecruitingPhase III

Examining 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) Effects on Psychological, Relational and Hyperarousal-Related Neural Reactivity Mechanisms in Veterans With PTSD and Moral Injury

Randomised, parallel-group trial (n=60) comparing MDMA-Assisted Therapy (three 8‑hour MDMA sessions with preparatory/integration therapy) versus an intensive somatic experiential therapy (SEA-IT) in male veterans with PTSD and moral injury.

Started
February 18, 2024
Type
interventional
Blinding
none
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT06394284
RecruitingPhase II

MDMA-Assisted CBCT for PTSD vs CBCT RCT

This interventional trial (n=60) aims to assess the efficacy and safety of MDMA-Assisted Cognitive-Behavioural Conjoint Therapy (CBCT) compared to CBCT alone in dyads where one member has Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Started
October 15, 2023
Type
interventional
Blinding
none
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT06044675
CompletedPhase III

MDMA-assisted Brief Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for PTSD (MDMA-bCBCT)

Open-label single-group pilot (n=16 dyads, 8 PTSD+ veterans and their partners) testing MDMA-assisted bCBCT: 8-session therapy with two full-day MDMA sessions for PTSD+ veterans to evaluate preliminary effectiveness on PTSD and relationship functioning.

Started
October 6, 2023
Type
interventional
Blinding
none
Randomized
No
Registry ID
NCT05979844
CompletedPhase I

Prosocial Effects of MDMA (PEM)

Early Phase I randomised crossover study (n=33 actual) testing whether MDMA (100 mg) produces greater prosocial effects when administered with a familiar versus unfamiliar partner in healthy volunteers.

Started
July 21, 2023
Type
interventional
Blinding
triple
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT05948683

Explore further

Search all MDMA papers Search all Interpersonal Functioning & Social Connectedness trials Full MDMA profile Full Interpersonal Functioning & Social Connectedness profile