MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD: Growing evidence for memory effects mediating treatment efficacy.
Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry January 10, 2024 Mesud Sarmanlu, Kim P C Kuypers, Patrick Vizeli et al. 17 citations
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD shows promising safety and efficacy in clinical trials, but its underlying mechanisms are not well understood. This review examines preclinical and clinical evidence suggesting that MDMA's effects on memory processes—specifically fear extinction and fear reconsolidation—may contribute to the treatment's success. The authors integrate findings from cognitive psychology and psychopharmacology to support this view and provide recommendations for future research.