Papers

Research literature with structured metadata.

Trials

Registered studies by status, phase, and compound.

Topics

Indications and themes psychedelics are researched for.

Compounds

Evidence across molecules with rich data.

Countries

Regulation, access, and research activity by region.

Stakeholders

Organizations shaping the space across research, policy, and funding.

People

Investigators, clinicians, and authors with mapped output.

Courses

Training programs and certifications across modalities.

Events

Conferences, workshops, and convenings by date and focus.

Results

Compare outcome data across trials and publications.

Research Snapshot

One-page overview of trials, participants, papers, and research networks.

Clinical Guidelines

Trial-anchored manuals and protocol guidance with competency mapping.

Research recaps

Monthly evidence summaries with key takeaways.

Map of research

Landscape view of trials, compounds, and outcomes.

Newsletter

Weekly or daily updates on trials, publications, analysis, and more.

Research Groups

Worldwide map of psychedelic research centres by region.

Road to Access

Science, regulation, and economics on the path to patient access.

Research Network

Interactive co-authorship map of psychedelic researchers.

Top papers

Find needles in the haystack of psychedelic research per topic.

AskBeta
Pricing

The intelligence layer for psychedelic research.

Company

  • About
  • Contact
  • Newsletter

Product

  • Feedback
  • Roadmap
  • Changelog
  • API
  • Partners
  • Clinical Guidelines

Legal

  • Privacy
  • Terms

© 2026 Blossom. All rights reserved.

Home/Research/MDMA/Personality & Trait Factors

MDMA for Personality & Trait Factors

20 papers and 2 clinical trials exploring mdma as a treatment for personality & trait factors.

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 10 million adults in the UK suffer from a personality disorder.

Personality & Trait Factors

Psychedelic research is increasingly examining the interplay between personality traits and therapeutic outcomes in various mental health conditions. Recent studies highlight how certain personality traits may influence the efficacy of psychedelic treatments, particularly in managing disorders like depression and anxiety.

Full Personality & Trait Factors profile

Academic Research

20 papers
Paywallindividual

Rapid Effects of MDMA Administration on Self-Reported Personality Traits and Affect State: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial in Healthy Adults

This pre-registered randomised placebo-controlled study (n=34) investigates the effects of MDMA (100mg) administration on personality traits and affective states in healthy adults. While no statistical significance was found for the primary hypotheses, medium effect sizes were observed for increased Openness (d = 0.79) and Positive Affect (d = 0.51) 48 hours after MDMA administration compared to placebo.

Published
October 23, 2024
Journal
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
Authors
Maples-Keller, J. L., Hyatt, C. S., Phillips, N. L., Sharpe, B. M., Sherrill, A., Yasinski, C., Reiff, C., Rakofsky, J., Rauch, S. A. M., Dunlop, B. W., Rothbaum, B. O.
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.
Open Accessindividual

Acute effects of MDMA and LSD co-administration in a double-blind placebo-controlled study in healthy participants

In a double‑blind, placebo‑controlled crossover study in 24 healthy adults, co‑administration of MDMA (100 mg) with LSD (100 µg) did not change the quality of LSD’s acute subjective effects but prolonged them and increased LSD plasma concentrations and elimination half‑life. The combination produced greater cardiovascular and pupil effects and higher oxytocin than LSD alone and therefore offered no advantage in efficacy or safety for psychedelic‑assisted therapy.

Published
May 31, 2023
Journal
Neuropsychopharmacology
Authors
Straumann, I., Ley, L., Holze, F., Becker, A. M., Klaiber, A., Wey, K., Duthaler, U., Varghese, N., Eckert, A., Liechti, M. E.
Open Accessindividual

Effects of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine on Conditioned Fear Extinction and Retention in a Crossover Study in Healthy Subjects

In a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled crossover study in 30 healthy males, a single 125 mg dose of MDMA given after conditioning enhanced rapid fear extinction and retention as indexed by reduced skin conductance responses to the conditioned stimulus, but had no effect on fear‑potentiated startle. MDMA raised plasma oxytocin levels and produced subjective effects linked to reduced CS+/CS− discrimination, though oxytocin itself did not predict extinction outcomes, suggesting MDMA may facilitate certain forms of learned fear attenuation relevant to its therapeutic use.

Published
July 13, 2022
Journal
Frontiers in Pharmacology
Authors
Vizeli, P., Straumann, I., Duthaler, U., Varghese, N., Eckert, A., Paulus, M. P., Risbrough, V., Liechti, M. E.
Paywallindividual

The role of extracellular serotonin and MDMA in the sensitizing effects of MDMA

This rodent study (2022) assessed the impact repeated high-dose exposure to MDMA has on markers of serotonin neurotransmission and if this is related to the sensitizing effects of MDMA. The results suggest that the sensitizing effects of MDMA are not due to changes in MDMA-produced synaptic overflow of serotonin but are more likely related to alterations in serotonin receptor mechanisms and/or dopamine neurotransmission.

Published
July 1, 2022
Journal
Behavioural Brain Research
Authors
Van De Wetering, R., Vorster, J. A., Geyrhofer, S., Harvey, J. E., Keyzers, R. A., Schenk, S.
Paywallindividual

Micro-dosing psychedelics as a plausible adjunct to psychosexual and couple’s therapy: a qualitative insight

This interview study (n=4 couples) explored the MDMA micro-dosing sexual experiences of four partnered men and women. Thematic analysis identified three key narratives: increased sexual self-efficacy; sexual exploration; and heightened relationship satisfaction. The use of microdosing MDMA had a positive effect on sexual and physical well-being by reducing stress and performance-related anxiety. Whilst higher doses of MDMA hindered sexual functioning this did not negatively impact the emotional and sensory experiences.

Published
February 28, 2022
Journal
Sexual and Relationship Therapy
Authors
Jacobs, L., Banbury, S., Lusher, J.

Clinical Trials

2 trials
Active not recruitingPhase I

MDMA-Assisted Therapy for Pathological Narcissism

This open-label, proof-of-concept pilot study (n=12) will assess the efficacy and safety of midomafetamine (MDMA)-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) with three monthly experimental dosing sessions (80 mg first; 120 mg second and third; optional 50% supplemental dose).

Started
August 27, 2024
Type
interventional
Blinding
none
Randomized
No
Registry ID
NCT06565494
Completed

MDMA-Assisted Therapy Open Clinical Series: Subjective Reports (Greer & Tolbert, San Francisco / Santa Fe 1980–1983)

This unregistered trial (n=29) was an uncontrolled clinical observational series of MDMA-assisted sessions for various therapeutic goals in self-referred participants, focusing primarily on the subjective and phenomenological reports of the experience.

Started
January 1, 1980
Type
interventional
Randomized
No
Registry ID
GREER-1986-JPSYCHOACTIVEDRUGS-MDMA-CLINICAL-SERIES

Explore further

Search all MDMA papers Search all Personality & Trait Factors trials Full MDMA profile Full Personality & Trait Factors profile