Exploring Mechanisms of Action in MDMA-assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD
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.
Details
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).