Six Month Follow up of the one of the First Patients to Complete MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD Outside of Clinical Trials in Australia: Implications for Translating Clinical Research to Clinical Practice
International Journal of Psychology December 6, 2024 Monica Schweickle, Ted Cassidy
A patient with chronic PTSD from domestic violence no longer met diagnostic criteria for PTSD or major depression after MDMA-assisted therapy in an Australian outpatient clinic. Her Impact of Events Scale-Revised score dropped from 61 at intake to 0 after the second dosing session and remained 0 at 3- and 6-month follow-up. Depression and anxiety scores also fell to normal ranges after the second session and were maintained. She reported greater self-compassion, less distress from trauma memories, and improved daily functioning, including feeling comfortable leaving her children with family for the first time. No adverse events occurred; only loss of appetite in the first 24 hours after dosing was reported. The case illustrates safe and effective translation of psychedelic-assisted therapy into clinical practice.