MDMA for the Treatment of Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia
Journal of Clinical Medicine June 7, 2022 Mitchell Arnovitz, Andrew Spitzberg, Ashkhan J. Davani et al. 29 citations
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia, such as social withdrawal and lack of motivation, contribute heavily to the economic burden of the disease and have no FDA-approved treatments. This review argues that MDMA, a schedule I substance known to enhance social interaction and empathy, may offer a novel therapeutic approach. The authors examine literature on negative symptoms, existing treatments, and MDMA-assisted therapy, concluding that recent evidence suggests MDMA can be safe and potentially effective for treating negative symptoms. The review also discusses safety considerations and possible mechanisms of action, including MDMA's ability to induce metaplasticity in the brain.