Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
September 1, 2021
Alan K. Davis, Gabrielle Agin-Liebes, Megan España et al.
103 citations
Clinical psychologists in the United States hold cautiously favorable attitudes toward psychedelic-assisted therapy but express concerns about psychiatric and neurocognitive risks. Most surveyed psychologists report lacking a full understanding of psychedelics' effects and indicate a need for additional consultation. They endorse positive beliefs about the potential of psychedelic treatment and the need for further research. The findings highlight the need to increase education and training about psychedelics for psychologists to enhance knowledge and reduce stigma.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.)
March 1, 2024
Jason Luoma, Luke R Allen, Veronika Gold et al.
14 citations
MDMA-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) is nearing regulatory approval, but the role of therapeutic touch within it remains understudied and raises ethical concerns about power dynamics. A review of existing literature on touch in psychotherapy found little empirical evidence specifically for MDMA-AT. To address this gap, the authors developed the Touch Outcomes Measurement Inventory (TOMI), a tool for assessing clients' perceptions of touch during MDMA-AT. The creation of TOMI is the main outcome, intended to help researchers and evaluators study touch's impact and inform evidence-based, ethical guidelines for its use in MDMA-AT and other psychedelic-assisted therapies.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
September 27, 2021
Jason Luoma, M. Kati Lear
11 citations
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) often persists despite treatment, prompting interest in MDMA-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) as an adjunct. A small randomized placebo-controlled trial in autistic adults showed encouraging results, but more research is needed. This review proposes how MDMA-AT may alter four disrupted systems in SAD: social anhedonia and reduced reward sensitivity, heightened threat perception, shame regulation, and dysfunctional interpersonal behaviors. The authors suggest MDMA-AT could enhance social motivation, increase feelings of safety and affiliation, reduce shame through self-transcendent emotions, and improve social skills, potentially boosting extinction learning and relationship quality.
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
July 1, 2024
P. Todd Korthuis, Kim Hoffman, Adrianne Wilson-Poe et al.
1 citation
No Summary
Open Science Framework
January 1, 2026
Christina Chwyl, M. Kati Lear, Sunjeev Kamboj et al.
Self-compassion is thought to be important for mental health, especially for people with social anxiety disorder. MDMA-assisted therapy may work by increasing self-compassion. This study will examine whether trait self-compassion rises during treatment and whether self-compassion felt during MDMA dosing sessions leads to lasting changes. It will also test if changes in self-compassion relate to improvements in social anxiety, depression, shame, functioning, and belonging. Five specific aims are outlined to explore these relationships across two dosing sessions.