This study measures biological and psychological processes that might help researchers to better understand what is taking place during low or medium dose and full dose MDMA-assisted psychotherapy treatment in people with PTSD.
This observational sub-study examines how MDMA-assisted psychotherapy affects brain and body function in people with chronic PTSD, focusing on associations between symptom change and physiological/brain measures.
Conducted in collaboration with MUSC, Smith College and the New School for Social Research, participants are drawn from the parent MP-8 trial and receive manualized MDMA-assisted psychotherapy.
Measures include fMRI (neutral and personalised trauma scripts), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and heart rate monitoring for HRV; scans/measurements occur at baseline and at specified post-treatment intervals depending on dose condition.
Psychotherapeutic processes are assessed via observation and coding of therapy sessions and self-report measures (eg, Self-Compassion Scale).
Participants from the parent MP-8 trial undergoing manualized MDMA-assisted psychotherapy
30, 75, or 125 mg oral MDMA followed 1.5–2 h later by a supplemental half-dose (dose condition per parent trial).
Manualized psychotherapy (behavioral)