ClinicalTrials.gg
RecruitingNCT07542145Updated Jun 22, 2026

MDMA Assisted Therapy for BN

A Phase 1 interventional study of MDMA-AT and MDMA-AT-BN in Bulimia Nervosa, sponsored by Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-22.

Sponsored by Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · Phase 1, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Started May 2026; still recruiting 5 months later.
Phase
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
40
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This project will evaluate MDMA Assisted Therapy (MDMA-AT) assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of Bulimia Nervosa (BN) over a 10-week period. Preliminary data suggests that MDMA can facilitate heightened openness and reduce anxiety. This study will determine whether MDMA-assisted therapy can serve as a new treatment for BN. Participants are assigned to one of three groups: MDMA-AT, MDMA-AT-BN, and Standard Treatment (ST). MDMA groups include three experimental session that include dosing, which are each followed by three integrative sessions and also include 12 psychotherapy sessions. A follow-up will take place at 6-months post baseline.

Read the detailed description

Three groups (MDMA-AT, MDMA-AT-BN, and ST) will be compared on changes in Binge Eating frequency, severity of symptoms, body image, weight, retention, acceptability of treatment, motivation, and safety. Assessments include a screening phase, baseline, MDMA-preparation phase, intervention, and a follow-up. MDMA-AT includes 3 sessions of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, 9 integrative sessions that involve discussing the experiences during MDMA sessions and processing thoughts, emotions, and distress. Additionally, 12 weekly non-specific therapy sessions take place after the dosing and integrative sessions. MDMA-AT-BN includes the same visits, but the psychotherapy is specific to BN. ST includes 22 weekly sessions focusing on thoughts and behaviors related to BN. A final follow-up visit will take place 6-months after baseline.

02

Conditions studied

  • Bulimia Nervosa

Keywords

  • Bulimia Nervosa
  • MDMA-assisted therapy
  • Eating Disorders
  • Binge Eating
  • BN
03

In context

Bulimia Nervosa

173 studies on the registry are indexed under Bulimia Nervosa; 39 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 40 is below the median of 60 across 121 interventional studies indexed under Bulimia Nervosa.

Browse Bulimia Nervosa studies →

Lead sponsor

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is the lead sponsor of 776 studies on the registry; 176 are open to participants now.

Of its 125 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 83 (66%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

Participants will be included in the protocol if they meet the following criteria:

  • At least 18 years of age
  • Meet criteria for Bulimia Nervosa as measured by the EDA-5
  • Able to provide written,
  • Able to swallow pills
  • Agree to have study visits recorded, including Experimental Sessions and non-medication therapy sessions
  • Provides a contact (relative, spouse, close friend or other support person) who is willing and able to be reached by the investigators in the event of a participant becoming suicidal or unreachable
  • Agrees to inform the investigators within 48 hours of any medical conditions and procedures
  • If able to become pregnant, must have a negative pregnancy test at study entry and prior to each Experimental Session, and must agree to use adequate methods through 10 days after the last Experimental Session. Adequate contraceptive methods include intrauterine device (IUD), injected, implanted, intravaginal, or transdermal hormonal methods, abstinence, oral hormones plus a barrier contraception, vasectomized sole partner, or double barrier contraception. Two forms of contraception are required with any barrier method or oral hormones (i.e., condom plus diaphragm, condom or diaphragm plus spermicide, oral hormonal contraceptives plus spermicide or condom). 'Not able to become pregnant' is defined as permanent sterilization, , or assigned male at birth
  • Agrees to the lifestyle modifications
  • Live within reasonable driving distance of the study site (equal to or less than an estimated 2-hour drive from the study site).
  • Have an identified Primary Care Physician (PCP) and provide consent for the investigator to communicate with PCP, as needed.
  • Current or past treatment were not successful to retain remission (i.e., continued to meet criteria for BN) despite participating in at least one ED-specific episode of treatment (inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient), as confirmed by medical records, by a general practitioner, or by a specialist in ED.
  • Are medically stable according to screening 12-lead (ECG), blood pressure monitoring, blood and urine laboratory screening results, and medical history.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

Participants will be excluded from participation for the following reasons:

  • (ALT) [or aspartate transaminase (AST)] > 2 x (ULN). Total > 1.5 x ULN (isolated bilirubin > 1.5 x ULN is acceptable if total bilirubin is fractionated and direct bilirubin \< 35%).
  • Estimated (eGFR) less than 60.
  • Current unstable liver or biliary disease per investigator assessment defined by presence of ascites, encephalopathy, coagulopathy, hypoalbuminemia, esophageal or gastric varices, persistent jaundice, or cirrhosis. Note: Stable chronic liver disease (including Gilbert's syndrome, asymptomatic gallstones, and chronic stable (e.g., the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen or positive antibody test result without evidence of active infection at screening or within 3 months prior to starting study intervention) is acceptable if the participant otherwise meets entry criteria.
  • Self-induced vomiting of over 14 times per week
  • Symptomatic Hepatitis C virus (HCV)
  • Moderate alcohol or cannabis use disorder (meets > 3 of 11 diagnostic criteria per ) or moderate alcohol or cannabis use disorder in early remission for the 3 months prior to enrollment (meets 4 or 5 of 11 diagnostic criteria per DSM-5)
  • Diabetes Type 1 or Unstable Type 2 Diabetes
  • Untreated hypothyroidism
  • Are likely, in the investigator's opinion and via observation during the Preparatory Period, to lack social support or a stable living situation
  • Have used Ecstasy (material represented as containing MDMA) more than 10 times within the last 10 years or at least once within 6 months of the first Experimental Session;
  • Have previously participated in a MAPS-sponsored MDMA clinical trial
  • Have any current problem which, in the opinion of the investigator or study clinician, might interfere with participation
  • Have to any ingredient of the IMP ( Medicinal Product)
  • Have received Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) within 12 weeks of enrollment
  • Have a history of or a current primary psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder 1 assessed via CAT-MH and confirmed via clinical interview or dissociative identity disorder assessed via DDIS and confirmed via clinical interview
  • Have current major depressive disorder with psychotic features assessed via CAT-MH
  • Have a current moderate (not in early remission in the 3 months prior to enrollment; meets 4 or 5 of 11 diagnostic criteria per DSM-5) or severe alcohol or cannabis use disorder within the 12 months prior to enrollment (meets at least 6 of 11 diagnostic criteria per DSM-5)
  • Have an active illicit drug or prescription drug substance use disorder at any severity (other than cannabis) within 12 months prior to enrollment
  • Any participant presenting current serious suicide risk, as determined through psychiatric interview, responses to C-SSRS, and clinical judgment of the investigator will be excluded; however, history of suicide attempts is not an exclusion. Any participant who is likely to require hospitalization related to suicidal ideation and behavior, in the judgment of the investigator, will not be enrolled. Any participant presenting with the following on the Baseline C-SSRS will be excluded: a. Suicidal ideation score of 4 or greater within the last month of the assessment at a frequency of once a week or more; b. Suicidal ideation score of 5 within the last 6 months of the assessment; c. Any suicidal behavior, including suicide attempts or preparatory acts, within the last 6 months of the assessment. Participants with non-suicidal self-injurious behavior may be included if approved by the study clinician
  • Would present a serious risk to others as established through clinical interview and contact with treating psychiatrist
  • Require ongoing concomitant therapy with a psychiatric medication with exceptions described the Concomitant Medications Section
  • Have a history of any medical condition that could make receiving a sympathomimetic drug harmful because of increases in blood pressure and heart rate. This includes, but is not limited to, a history of myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, or aneurysm. Participants with other mild, stable chronic medical problems may be enrolled if the study physician and Sponsor-investigator agree the condition would not significantly increase the risk of MDMA administration or be likely to produce significant symptoms during the study that could interfere with study participation or be confused with side effects of the IMP. Examples of stable medical conditions that could be allowed include, but are not limited to Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2), (HIV) infection, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), etc. Any medical disorder judged by the investigator to significantly increase the risk of MDMA administration by any mechanism would require exclusión
  • ASCVD Risk Estimator 10-year cardiovascular risk of 7.5% or higher
  • Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) METs score less than 4
  • Have a diagnosis of uncontrolled essential hypertension which is assessed using the recommended criteria of the American Heart Association for Stage 2 hypertension (values of 140/90 milligrams of Mercury [mmHg] or higher assessed on three separate occasions)
  • Have a history of ventricular arrhythmia at any time, other than occasional premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) in the absence of ischemic heart disease
  • Have Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or any other accessory pathway that has not been successfully eliminated by ablation
  • Have a history of supraventricular arrhythmia within the last 12 months. Participants with a history of an allowable supraventricular arrhythmia (see list below) more than 12 months prior to screening and in the absence of any accessory pathway may be enrolled if successfully treated at least 12 months prior and cleared by a cardiologist, and the study clinician. These arrhythmias may include, and must be limited to, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, or atrial fibrillation that has been successfully treated (e.g., with ablation or cardioversion) at least 12 months previously. Atrial flutter or other arrhythmias will be excluded
  • Have a marked baseline prolongation of /QTc interval (e.g., repeated demonstration of a QTcF interval >450 milliseconds [ms]
  • Have a history of additional risk factors for Torsade de pointes (e.g., heart failure, hypokalemia, family history of Long QT Syndrome)
  • Require use of concomitant medications that prolong the QT/QTc interval during Experimental Sessions. Refer to Concomitant Medications Section
  • Have history of hyponatremia or hyperthermia
  • Weigh less than 48 kilograms (kg)
  • Are pregnant or nursing or are able to become pregnant and are not practicing an effective means of
  • Have a blood or needle phobia that interferes with obtaining necessary blood work.
  • Sensitivity to any of the study interventions, or components thereof, or drug or other allergy that, in the opinion of the sponsor-investigator or study clinician, contraindicates participation in the study.
  • Expressed that they are not comfortable in participating in therapy and conducting assessments in English.
  • Blood disorder or infection indicated by CBC assay that would be for MDMA.
  • Thyroid condition (hyperthyroidism) indicated by TSH that would prevent body temperature regulation and be contraindicated for MDMA
  • Urinalysis results indicating electrolytes/kidney disfunction
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(16)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Contraception

Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.

Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.

Postmenopausal

Periods have stopped for good: usually no period for 12 months in a row without another medical reason, sometimes confirmed by a blood test (FSH).

ECG (electrocardiogram)

A recording of the heart’s electrical activity, taken with stickers on the chest, arms and legs. It takes a few minutes and does not hurt.

ALT and AST (liver enzymes)

Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.

Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.

ULN (upper limit of normal)

The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.

“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.

Bilirubin

A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.

Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.

GFR and eGFR (kidney filtering)

GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is how much blood the kidneys filter each minute. It is usually estimated from a blood test — eGFR, by formulas such as CKD-EPI or MDRD — and some studies ask for it to be measured directly instead. Usually given in mL/min/1.73 m².

Check the method, the units and the minimum the study states. A value of 90 or above is in the normal-or-high range, but kidney damage can show in other tests too.

Hepatitis B tests

Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. These are separate tests: HBsAg positive usually means a current infection (a recent vaccination can briefly cause it too); total anti-HBc (HBcAb) positive means an infection now or in the past; HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood.

Some studies accept a past infection if HBV DNA is undetectable, sometimes with antiviral medicine during the study. Check what this study allows.

Hepatitis C tests

Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver. An HCV antibody test can stay positive after an infection has cleared (and is occasionally positive without one); an HCV RNA test shows whether the virus is there now.

After treatment, hepatitis C counts as cured when HCV RNA is still undetectable 12 weeks or more after the treatment ended. Studies often accept people cured this way.

DSM diagnostic criteria

The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.

Hypersensitivity

An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.

Investigational drug or device

A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.

It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

QT and QTc

On an ECG, the QT interval is the time the heart’s lower chambers take to activate electrically and recover in each beat. QTc is that time adjusted for heart rate (QTcF by Fridericia’s formula, QTcB by Bazett’s). Some medicines lengthen it, and a long QTc can raise the risk of a dangerous heart rhythm.

The study may name a correction formula and a limit in milliseconds, often around 450–480.

Contraindication

A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
40 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    MDMA-AT

    This assignment includes 3 experimental (medicine) sessions, occurring 3 weeks apart and 9 integrative sessions over the course of 10 weeks. These are followed by 12 sessions of non-specific eating disorder psychotherapy.

    Drug: MDMA-AT

  • Experimental
    MDMA-AT-BN

    This assignment includes 3 experimental (medicine) sessions, occurring 3 weeks apart and 9 integrative sessions over the course of 10 weeks. These are followed by 12 sessions of BN-specific eating disorder psychotherapy.

    Drug: MDMA-AT-BN

  • Active comparator
    Standard Treatment (ST)

    This assignment includes weekly therapy sessions for 22 weeks.

    Behavioral: Standard Treatment (ST)

Interventions

  • DrugMDMA-AT

    MDMA-AT assisted psychotherapy (MDMA-AT) assignment includes 3 experimental (medicine) sessions, occurring 3 weeks apart and 9 integrative sessions over the course of 10 weeks. These are followed by 12 sessions of non-specific eating disorder psychotherapy.

  • DrugMDMA-AT-BN

    MDMA-AT assisted psychotherapy specific to BN (MDMA-AT-BN) assignment includes 3 experimental (medicine) sessions, occurring 3 weeks apart and 9 integrative sessions over the course of 10 weeks. These are followed by 12 sessions of BN-specific eating disorder psychotherapy.

  • BehavioralStandard Treatment (ST)

    Standard Treatment (ST) for BN assignment includes weekly therapy sessions for 22 weeks.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Binge Eating Episode Frequency

    Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDEQ) is administered to assess psychopathology of eating disorders using 28 items. Binge eating frequency (count of binge eating episodes) is a question measured in this assessment. Higher frequency indicates higher severity.

    Time frame: Up to 6 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Binge Eating Severity

    Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDEQ) is a self-report measure assessing psychopathology of eating disorders using 28 items. Global score ranges from 0 to 6 with higher scores indicating symptoms of higher severity. Scores will be calculated between baseline and 6-months.

    Time frame: Up to 6 months

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — Individual participant data will not be shared from this trial due to the early stages of investigation.

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Started May 2026 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Apr 2028, 23 months after the start.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Apr 14, 2026
First posted
Apr 21, 2026
StartActual
May 22, 2026
Primary completionEst.
Apr 30, 2028
CompletionEst.
Apr 30, 2028
Last update
Jun 22, 2026
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 22, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07542145
Responsible party
Tom Hildebrandt (Professor and Chief of the Division of Eating & Weight Disorders, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai) — Principal investigator
First posted
Apr 21, 2026
Start date
May 22, 2026
Primary completion
Apr 30, 2028 (estimated)
Completion
Apr 30, 2028 (estimated)
Last update
Jun 22, 2026

Study contacts

Carson Harran
Contact
carson.harran@mssm.edu
212-659-8724
Tom Hildebrandt, PsyD
principal investigator · Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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