Carolyn I Rodriguez

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).

3 papers in the library · 62 citations · publishing 2025-2026

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

Negative Affect Circuit Subtypes and Neural, Behavioral, and Affective Responses to MDMA: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

JAMA network open April 1, 2025 Xue Zhang, Laura M Hack, Claire Bertrand et al. 10 citations

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 16 adults with subthreshold PTSD symptoms and early life trauma but no current psychiatric disorders were given 120 mg of MDMA or placebo. Participants were split into two groups based on baseline brain activity in the amygdala in response to nonconscious threat cues: those with high amygdala reactivity (NTNA+) and those with low reactivity (NTNA-). MDMA, compared with placebo, reduced activity in the amygdala and subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC), increased connectivity between the sgACC and amygdala, and increased liking of threatening facial expressions, but only in the NTNA+ subgroup. These findings suggest that baseline neural circuit profiles can identify who may benefit most from MDMA therapy and point to possible biomarkers for personalized treatment.

DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.7803 Full text Psychopharmacology Mental health treatment MDMA Therapy Emotion regulation +1

Low-Dose Buprenorphine Following Ketamine Treatment for Suicidal Ideation in Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

The American journal of psychiatry June 1, 2026 Jason M Tucciarone, Igor D Bandeira, Christine Blasey et al. 5 citations

Ketamine rapidly reduces suicidal thoughts in major depressive disorder, but the effect is short-lived. In this trial, adults with major depression and active suicidal ideation received a single ketamine infusion, then were randomly assigned to take either low-dose buprenorphine or a placebo daily for four weeks. Suicidal thoughts dropped significantly more in the buprenorphine group (average decrease of 11.6 points on the Scale for Suicide Ideation) than in the placebo group (average decrease of 6.3 points). Depression scores did not differ between groups. No serious side effects occurred. Buprenorphine appears to sustain and boost ketamine's antisuicidal effects, offering a potentially safe, scalable option for suicide prevention.

DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20250840 Full text Major depressive disorder Bipolar disorder Buprenorphine Ketamine/esketamine +1