Pilot Study Tests the Efficacy and Safety of MDMA for Treating PTSD

This was the first completed clinical trial evaluating MDMA for use in therapy.

April 2011

The rate of clinical response (decrease in PTSD scale scores) for the MDMA (aka ecstasy) treatment group was 83% compared to 25% for the placebo group. The study found no serious adverse effects related to the treatment, also no adverse neurocognitive effects or significant increases in blood pressure.

    References
  1. Mithoefer MC, Wagner MT, Mithoefer AT, Jerome L, Doblin R. The safety and efficacy of ±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy in subjects with chronic, treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder: The first randomized controlled pilot study. J Psychopharmacol. 2011;25(4):439-452. doi:10.1177/0269881110378371