A Phase 2 interventional study of MDMA in PTSD, sponsored by Emory University. Enrolling by invitation at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 21 Years to 70 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-08.
Sponsored by Emory University · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating disorder. While effective treatments exist, some patients fail to receive the full benefits. Alternative treatment approaches are needed. 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a medicine associated with feelings of closeness and love for others, empathy, insightfulness, and feelings of peace or well-being. Recent research combining one or two doses of MDMA with psychotherapy has shown improvements in PTSD symptoms.
For the present study, the researchers will investigate MDMA in combination with Prolonged Exposure therapy (PE), a gold-standard treatment for PTSD. All participants receive MDMA on the second day of a 10-day PE treatment program in which a PE therapy session occurs each day. This study will occur at the Emory Brain Health Center. Potential participants will be recruited via community advertising and mental health referrals.
The research team will also collect psychophysiological data for exploratory analyses regarding how MDMA may improve PE treatment for PTSD. This is an important study as it is the first time MDMA will be combined with an evidence-based existing PTSD treatment.
The study population will consist of people who meet the criteria for PTSD and are medically appropriate for MDMA administration.
Exposure-based interventions for PTSD have strong empirical support and involve helping PTSD patients confront feared trauma-related memories and triggers in a therapeutic manner so that distress decreases. This study will involve massed exposure therapy, which involves daily therapy sessions for two weeks, in combination with a one-time administration of MDMA. This is an open-label trial in which all enrolled participants will receive MDMA administration during treatment. An initial phone screen will be conducted for interested individuals to describe the study and assess eligibility. Following the phone screen, informed consent will occur. Interested individuals will also complete a drug test in their local community to be reviewed by the study team. For individuals interested in tapering their psychiatric medication, this may be done with a local provider or study physician. In this event, a psychiatric assessment will be conducted at the end of medication tapering to reassess eligibility.
For those who choose to participate and are eligible, the first day will include a medical and psychiatric assessment to confirm eligibility, a blood draw to check medical labs, a psychophysiological assessment, completion of self-report measures, and one therapy session. Additionally, an optional functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan will be offered at the pre-treatment and end-of-treatment visits.
Upon confirmation of eligibility, the second day (or Medicine session) will involve MDMA administration followed by two therapy sessions with a break in between. A psychophysiological session will also occur on Day 2. Days 3-10 (which do not involve drug administration) will include a daily exposure therapy session. Psychophysiology will be collected during the therapy session. A psychophysiology session will occur on Days 4, 9, and 10 in addition to Days 1 and 2. Participants will be contacted at one week, two weeks, four weeks, and 6 months after treatment ends to complete symptom assessments via phone or online measures.
2,239 studies on the registry are indexed under Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; 554 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 40 is below the median of 70 across 1,858 interventional studies indexed under Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic.
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Exclusion Criteria:
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in combination with massed exposure therapy for PTSD
Drug: MDMA
Participants will receive MDMA HCl (100 mg, 84 mg MDMA) in combination with massed exposure therapy for PTSD.
Also known as: MDMA-assisted massed exposure therapy, MDMA + PE
Effect of MDMA-assisted massed exposure therapy on clinician-rated PTSD symptoms
Measured by the change in the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) total severity score from baseline to 1-month post-treatment. The CAPS-5 is a structured clinician-administered measure that assesses the presence and severity of PTSD per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria. All the DSM-5 symptoms of PTSD are assessed and rated on a scale from 0 (Absent) to 4 (Extremely Severe), with clear anchors provided to clinicians to assist with accurate ratings.
Time frame: Baseline (day 1) and day 42 (+/- 2 days)
Effect of MDMA on massed exposure therapy on self-reported PTSD symptoms.
Measured by the change in the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) from baseline to 1-month post-treatment. The PCL-5 is a 20-item self-report measure of DSM-5 PTSD symptoms. Scores on the PCL range from 0 to 80.
Time frame: Baseline (day 1) and day 42 (+/- 2 days)
Plan to share: No
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
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