Social workers rated SSRI-assisted therapy as significantly more acceptable, appropriate, and feasible than MDMA-assisted therapy for treating adolescents with treatment-resistant PTSD, with medium-to-large effect sizes. Perceptions of MDMA risk were higher among those who read about MDMA-assisted therapy, and greater psychedelic stigma correlated with higher perceived risk of MDMA. However, more psychedelic knowledge was linked to less stigma and lower perceived risk. These findings suggest that social workers' concerns about MDMA-assisted therapy for adolescents may hinder clinical trial recruitment and future implementation.
A guided online mindfulness-based intervention (iMBI) reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms with a large effect size and improved mindfulness with a moderate effect size among community residents in Hong Kong experiencing emotional distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a randomized controlled trial with 64 participants, those who received 16 online modules, weekly telephone counseling, and two half-day online workshops showed significantly greater improvements than a waitlist control group. The findings support the effectiveness of guided iMBI for emotional distress.