MDMA did not increase prosocial behavior in a controlled laboratory setting, despite raising blood levels of the drug and self-reported feelings of closeness and euphoria. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment with 20 healthy volunteers, MDMA (100 mg) failed to significantly change task-based measures of empathy, trust, or cooperative behavior compared to placebo. Bayesian analyses supported the conclusion that MDMA and placebo had equivalent effects on empathy and cooperation. The drug also did not alter mood three days after administration. These findings suggest that the acute prosocial effects of MDMA observed in naturalistic or therapeutic contexts may not replicate under controlled experimental conditions.
A double-blind pilot study tested whether a single dose of esketamine, combined with two weeks of daily mindfulness-based intervention (MBI), enhances engagement in meditation and improves alcohol-related outcomes among 28 individuals with alcohol problems. Participants received either sublingual esketamine (115.1 mg) or a vitamin C placebo. Esketamine increased psychological engagement with daily MBI and produced transient decreases in alcohol cravings, along with greater mystical experiences and dissociative states compared to placebo. The findings suggest that esketamine may improve treatment outcomes when paired with mindfulness-based therapies by boosting engagement with meditative practice.