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The promise of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in combination with prolonged exposure therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder

Neuropsychopharmacology volume 48, pages 255–256 (2023)Cite this article

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3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy is likely to be the next FDA-approved indication for PTSD. In a phase 3 trial, MDMA-assisted therapy resulted in significantly greater reductions in PTSD compared to placebo [1]. This non-directive therapeutic approach is time intensive (i.e., 42 therapist hours); research testing mechanisms of action and investigating models with fewer therapist hours is needed. The APA Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of PTSD strongly recommends four interventions as PTSD treatments: cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive processing therapy (CPT), cognitive therapy, and prolonged exposure therapy (PE) [2]. MDMA has never previously been investigated in combination with any of these gold standard PTSD interventions.

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References

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Funding

The research reviewed here (Maples-Keller, Norrholm, Burton, Reiff, Coghlan, Jovanovic, Yasinksi, Jarboe, Rakofsky, Rauch, Dunlop, & Rothbaum, 2022) was supported with funding from the Abraham J. and Phyllis Katz Foundation and NIH grant P50MH100023.The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) was the study sponsor, and its wholly owned subsidiary MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC) was the sponsor designee and trial organizer. BOR has funding from Wounded Warrior Project, Department of Defense Clinical Trial Grant No.W81XWH-10-1-1045, and McCormick Foundation. BOR receives royalties from Oxford University Press, Guilford, APPI, and Emory University and received advisory board payments from Genentech, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Nobilis Therapeutics, Sophren, Neuronetics, and Aptinyx. JMK has funding from the Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number K12HD085850, UL1TR002378 (Georgia CTSA), has received funding and consulting payments from COMPASS Pathways, and receives support from the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) and the Infinite Hero Foundation. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Atlanta, Georgia

    Barbara O. Rothbaum & Jessica L. Maples-Keller

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  1. Barbara O. Rothbaum
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  2. Jessica L. Maples-Keller
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BOR and JMK wrote the article.

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Correspondence to Barbara O. Rothbaum.

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BOR is a consultant to and owns equity in Virtually Better, Inc. that creates virtual environments. The terms of these arrangements have been reviewed and approved by Emory University in accordance with its conflict of interest policies. JMK declares no competing interests.

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Rothbaum, B.O., Maples-Keller, J.L. The promise of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in combination with prolonged exposure therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder. Neuropsychopharmacol. 48, 255–256 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-022-01381-7

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