Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, The Commonwealth Building, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, United Kingdom.
2 papers in the library · 144 citations · publishing 2019-2025
This review describes the history, pharmacology, safety, and clinical uses of MDMA. Most clinical research has focused on MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD, which is now in Phase 3 trials with a target for FDA and EMA licensing in 2021. The paper also covers other potential applications, including treating anxiety in autism and the authors' ongoing study on MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for alcohol use disorder. If efficacy criteria are met, MDMA would become a licensed medicine.
In an open-label feasibility study, 14 adults with alcohol use disorder who had recently completed detoxification underwent an eight-week course of ten psychotherapy sessions, including two sessions with MDMA. Bayesian analysis estimated a 55%–63% probability of a two-level reduction in World Health Organization drinking risk three months after treatment. Preliminary findings also indicated reductions in alcohol craving and improvements in sleep and aspects of psychosocial functioning at the three-month follow-up compared to baseline. The results provide initial insights into MDMA-assisted psychotherapy's potential to improve quality of life and well-being beyond reducing drinking.