Research Square
February 25, 2026
Sean M Vina
Lifetime psychedelic use is not independently linked to lower odds of missing needed mental health treatment after accounting for psychological distress. However, among people with higher distress, those who have used psychedelics—especially men—show a smaller increase in missed care compared to non-users. For women, only MDMA use shows a similar buffering effect. The findings indicate that psychedelic exposure does not uniformly improve treatment engagement and that gender differences exist in how distress relates to disengagement from care. Structural inequality may produce diminished benefits for women despite similar distress levels.
February 24, 2026
Momoko Ishii, Mark Zervas
SSRIs, psilocybin, and MDMA all modulate serotonin-related neural circuits and are used or proposed as treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Despite their clinical promise, the molecular, cellular, and neural-circuit mechanisms by which they alleviate PTSD symptoms remain poorly understood. This position paper from Zervas Scientific Consulting reviews the neurobiological roles and intellectual property considerations for these compounds, aiming to integrate multidisciplinary knowledge to advance effective novel treatment options for patients with PTSD.
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
February 23, 2026
Parker Singleton, Brooke L. Sevchik
A meta-analytic research domain (MARD) on MDMA therapies for adults with post-traumatic stress disorder has been compiled as part of the Metapsy project. The dataset includes comparisons of MDMA therapy versus control conditions, with effect sizes for outcomes at post-test and long-term follow-ups. Data extraction was performed independently by two researchers, and risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool (Version 2). This living database was developed by the Synthesis of Psychedelic Research Studies (Sypres) Collaboration.
Translation The University of Toledo Journal of Medical Sciences
February 17, 2026
Amy Hooper, Evelyn K. Lambe
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy shows promise for PTSD, especially when standard treatments like SSRIs and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy have failed. A review of evidence from human and rodent studies examines two main explanations for its effects: a neurobiological model, where MDMA reduces amygdala reactivity, boosts hippocampal connectivity, and alters serotonin and oxytocin signaling to aid fear extinction, memory reconsolidation, and neuroplasticity; and a relational model, where MDMA's prosocial and empathogenic qualities strengthen the therapeutic alliance and patient suggestibility. Rather than being mutually exclusive, these processes likely work together, with MDMA creating a "window of emotional safety" that enables both neurobiological and interpersonal healing. Understanding this dual action is key to refining treatment protocols and therapist training.
Journal of Forensic Sciences
February 12, 2026
Thomas Sheehan, Hilary Hamnett, Sarah G. G. Russell et al.
MDMA (ecstasy) is used by 4.8% of New Zealanders aged 15 or older. In coronial cases (131 positive for MDMA), the average blood concentration was 0.88 mg/L; in driving-under-the-influence cases (193 positive), the average was 0.23 mg/L. Over 85% of cases also involved other drugs, most often cannabis and alcohol. Drug seizures averaged 71% purity, with capsules being the purest. The data inform forensic toxicology and drug policy.
Br J Psychiatry
February 10, 2026
No Summary
Behavioural Brain Research
February 10, 2026
Kristin A. Felsch, Jessica A. Siegel
MDMA is a psychomotor stimulant drug. Most research has focused on adults, but adolescence is a unique period of brain development where MDMA's effects may differ. This review summarizes 54 studies (48 in rodents, 6 in humans) on acute and repeated adolescent MDMA exposure. Acute high doses generally increase locomotor activity and impair the serotonin system. Repeated exposure shows conflicting results depending on dosing, testing environment, and timing. There is little research on adolescent females. More consistent dosing and female subjects are needed.
Scientific Reports
February 10, 2026
Michelle Olofsson, Kasim Acar, Otto Simonsson et al.
Lifetime MDMA use was not significantly associated with meaning in life overall, but a significant interaction emerged: among Swedish adults with a history of childhood trauma, those who had ever used MDMA reported higher meaning in life than those who had not. Meaning in life was measured using the presence subscale of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire. The findings suggest MDMA use may relate to psychological resilience in trauma-exposed populations, though further longitudinal and experimental research is needed to test causal direction.
International Journal of Electrochemical Science
February 9, 2026
Anne Felim, Anne Neudörffer, François P. Monnet et al.
A new electrochemical method produces two specific metabolites of MDMA (ecstasy)—bis-catechol-thioether conjugates—in a single reaction step with 99% purity, using environmentally friendly conditions. The process starts with N-methyl-α-methyldopamine and avoids isolating an intermediate, saving time, materials, and reducing waste. The paper also discusses how these bis-conjugates may contribute to MDMA's long-term neurotoxic effects, as they can cause both necrosis and apoptosis in rat hippocampal pyramidal neurons.
Pharmacopsychiatry
February 5, 2026
Tianyi Xu, Sabrina Wong, Gia Han Le et al.
Lysergic acid diethylamide and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine activate the 5-hydroxytryptamine 2B receptor, a pathway known to cause drug-induced valvular heart disease. This systematic review of 17 studies found no research on psilocybin, dimethyltryptamine, or mescaline. Both lysergic acid diethylamide and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine show high or moderate affinity for this receptor and promote signaling linked to fibrotic changes in heart valve tissue. In vivo studies confirm serotonin-induced valvulopathy, and chronic 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine use has been associated with valve abnormalities in humans. No clinical cases of lysergic acid diethylamide-induced valvulopathy have been reported, but preclinical data suggest potential for fibrotic signaling under sustained exposure. Preliminary evidence supports the need for cardiac safety monitoring in psychedelic research.
Biological psychiatry
February 3, 2026
Mehmet Bostancıklıoğlu, Davut Sinan Kaplan, Ramazan Bal et al.
Psilocybin and MDMA reduce anxiety-like behaviors in a rat model of fear conditioning, and these effects depend on myelin plasticity in the dentate gyrus. Both drugs triggered oligodendroglial changes and multi-omic signatures of myelin remodeling, though mean myelin thickness (g-ratio) did not differ significantly between treated and untreated fear-conditioned animals. Disrupting myelin abolished the anxiolytic effects. Psilocybin preferentially activated early oligodendroglial gene programs, while MDMA enhanced markers of mature myelin. Blocking the 5-HT2A receptor completely eliminated both the myelin and behavioral enhancements. Enhancing myelination may be a viable strategy to sustain therapeutic effects of psychedelic-assisted treatments for PTSD.
Journal of affective disorders
February 2, 2026
Alene Sze Jing Yong, Aimée Freeburn, Suzie Bratuskins et al.
Australia became the first country to allow authorized prescribing of MDMA for PTSD outside clinical trials. Interviews with 21 clinicians, researchers, and patients who had direct experience with MDMA-assisted psychotherapy or PTSD revealed eleven themes, including the importance of expectation management, comprehensive baseline screening, shared decision-making, flexible treatment protocols, ongoing consent, strong therapeutic alliance, and post-treatment continuity of care. The findings emphasize the need for safeguards, provider training, and integration of care as MDMA-assisted psychotherapy enters clinical practice.
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
February 2, 2026
Maya C Gaines-Smith, Justin M Silverman, Michael Fiorillo et al.
3 citations
The drug MDMA, also known as ecstasy, is being studied as a possible aid in psychotherapy for hard-to-treat mental health conditions, but how it works in the brain is not fully understood. In experiments with mice, the S(+) form of MDMA, but not the R(-) form, activated a specific serotonin receptor (5-HT2AR) and caused changes in brain cell connections in the frontal cortex of males. The R(-) form had little effect except for a head-twitch response in females. Blocking the serotonin transporter with fluoxetine prevented these effects, showing that MDMA works indirectly by increasing serotonin levels. These results reveal that MDMA's effects on brain plasticity depend on both the drug's chemical form and the sex of the animal.
Psychopharmacology
February 1, 2026
Ana Deutsch, Connor J Haggarty, Gavin N Petrie et al.
1 citation
A single oral dose of methamphetamine (20 mg) reduced blood levels of the endocannabinoid 2-AG in healthy adults, while MDMA (100 mg) did not. Neither drug affected anandamide (AEA) levels. Under placebo, higher AEA concentrations were linked to disliking the drug effects, suggesting a connection between AEA and negative expectations. These findings show how stimulants act on the endocannabinoid system and may inform treatments for substance use disorders.
Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior
February 1, 2026
Daniel A Palacios-Lagunas, Juan C Hernández-mondragón, Kjell Fuxe et al.
1 citation
MDMA, known for promoting prosocial feelings in humans, unexpectedly reduced social behavior in male rats regardless of whether they lived alone or in groups. In female rats, the same reduction occurred only in those housed individually; group-housed females showed no change. The data also hinted that individual rats varied in their response to MDMA, suggesting personal differences matter. More research is needed to understand how such variation influences MDMA's effects.
Neurologic clinics
February 1, 2026
Mina Ansari, Sophie I Elliott, Sophie E Holmes et al.
1 citation
Placebo effects in depression treatment trials are substantial and can obscure the true efficacy of new drugs, especially for psychedelic-like compounds. Expectancy, the therapeutic setting, and trial design all interact to shape patient outcomes. This review examines these factors and discusses emerging methods to mitigate, measure, or harness placebo effects in future research on rapid-acting antidepressants and psychedelic therapies.