MDMA-Assisted Treatment for PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression: A Visualized Literature Analysis over 30 Years.
Current medicinal chemistry June 2, 2025 Jinlong Zhang, Xingxing Dang, Jiang Lin et al.
A bibliometric analysis of 30 years of research on MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, anxiety, and depression shows a substantial increase in publications over the past decade. The United States leads in output, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is the most productive institution, and Rick Doblin is a highly influential researcher. The research focus has shifted from studying MDMA's neurotoxicity to exploring its therapeutic mechanisms, safety, and clinical applications. The analysis identifies key research trajectories and challenges, including the need for improved trial design, greater sample diversity, and evaluation of long-term effects to support clinical integration.