Potential processes of change in MDMA-Assisted therapy for social anxiety disorder: Enhanced memory reconsolidation, self-transcendence, and therapeutic relationships.
Human psychopharmacology May 1, 2022 Jason B Luoma, Ben Shahar, M Kati Lear et al. 26 citations
Adding MDMA to psychotherapy may help treat social anxiety disorder by triggering three key processes of change. MDMA can enhance memory reconsolidation, allowing patients to reprocess painful social memories. It can also induce self-transcendent emotions like compassion, love, and awe, which counteract shame and social disconnection. Finally, MDMA may strengthen the therapeutic relationship, a robust predictor of positive outcomes. These effects likely extend beyond the drug sessions themselves.