Aaron S Wolfgang

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Fonzo, Barksdale, Nemeroff) and Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy (Fonzo, Nemeroff), University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin; Institute for Early Life Adversity Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin (Fonzo, Nemeroff); Department of Behavioral Health, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD (Wolfgang); Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD (Wolfgang); Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT (Wolfgang, Krystal); Butler Hospital, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI (Carpenter); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Kraguljac); Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles (Grzenda); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta (McDonald); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (Widge); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA (Rodriguez); Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA (Rodriguez).

2 papers in the library · 62 citations · publishing 2023-2025

Papers

MDMA and MDMA-Assisted Therapy.

The American journal of psychiatry January 1, 2025 Aaron S Wolfgang, Gregory A Fonzo, Joshua C Gray et al. 47 citations

MDMA-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) using pharmaceutical-grade MDMA in controlled clinical settings is a safe and efficacious treatment for PTSD. After three MDMA administrations supported by psychotherapy, 67%–71% of individuals with PTSD no longer meet diagnostic criteria, compared with 32%–48% for placebo-assisted therapy, and effects persist at long-term follow-up. Unlike recreational use, which is confounded by adulterants and lack of precautions, MDMA-AT uniquely induces prosocial effects of trust and self-compassion while maintaining cognitive clarity. The review distinguishes evidence from recreational and therapeutic settings, describes neurobiological mechanisms, clinical evidence, public health and policy considerations, and future research directions.

DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20230681 Full text Major depressive disorder PTSD Molly Methylenedioxymethamphetamine +6

Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Military and Veterans Healthcare Systems: Clinical, Legal, and Implementation Considerations.

Current psychiatry reports October 1, 2023 Aaron S Wolfgang, Charles W Hoge 15 citations

MDMA- and psilocybin-assisted therapy have shown promising outcomes for PTSD and depression, respectively. MDMA-assisted therapy is already FDA-approved on a compassionate use basis for PTSD, with full approval projected for 2024; psilocybin-assisted therapy is projected to be approved for depression soon after. The VA is conducting clinical trials, but implementation barriers include high clinical hours per patient, resource requirements, military-specific considerations, and the need for strong evidence before inclusion in clinical guidelines. Policymakers in the DoD and VA must prepare clear policies for these treatments as FDA approval approaches.

DOI: 10.1007/s11920-023-01446-4 Full text MDMA Psilocybin Military Psychedelics +4