Perceived Benefits of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy beyond Symptom Reduction: Qualitative Follow-Up Study of a Clinical Trial for Individuals with Treatment-Resistant PTSD
- PMID: 30849288
- DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2019.1580805
Perceived Benefits of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy beyond Symptom Reduction: Qualitative Follow-Up Study of a Clinical Trial for Individuals with Treatment-Resistant PTSD
Abstract
We present select findings from a long-term follow-up qualitative study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for veterans, firefighters, and police officers suffering from chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted at participants' one-year follow-up after a recently completed phase 2 clinical trial. Available interviews from 19 of 24 participants were analyzed. This qualitative analysis sought to complement, clarify, and expand upon the quantitative findings obtained from the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-IV) and supported by the Long-Term Follow-Up (LTFU) Questionnaire. Pertinent data from interview transcripts were coded and analyzed using an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) methodological framework. We explore prominent thematic elements from participant accounts to better understand the outcomes experienced in this trial. All participants reported experiencing lasting personal benefits and enhanced quality of life that extend beyond quantifiable symptom reduction. We explore a range of treatment benefits beyond symptom reduction to highlight the utility of qualitative investigations of the process and effects of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. Limitations and challenges encountered in conducting this study are discussed along with recommendations for improved qualitative research protocols in future clinical trials.
Keywords: 3; 4-Methylenedioxy-methamphetamine; MDMA; MDMA-assisted psychotherapy; PTSD; posttraumatic stress disorder; qualitative research.
Similar articles
-
Long-term follow-up outcomes of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of PTSD: a longitudinal pooled analysis of six phase 2 trials.Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2020 Aug;237(8):2485-2497. doi: 10.1007/s00213-020-05548-2. Epub 2020 Jun 4. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2020. PMID: 32500209 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans, firefighters, and police officers: a randomised, double-blind, dose-response, phase 2 clinical trial.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018 Jun;5(6):486-497. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30135-4. Epub 2018 May 1. Lancet Psychiatry. 2018. PMID: 29728331 Clinical Trial.
-
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder: A randomized phase 2 controlled trial.J Psychopharmacol. 2018 Dec;32(12):1295-1307. doi: 10.1177/0269881118806297. Epub 2018 Oct 29. J Psychopharmacol. 2018. PMID: 30371148 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
[MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD].Laeknabladid. 2024 May;110(5):254-261. doi: 10.17992/lbl.2024.05.793. Laeknabladid. 2024. PMID: 38713560 Review. Icelandic.
-
Beyond ecstasy: Alternative entactogens to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine with potential applications in psychotherapy.J Psychopharmacol. 2021 May;35(5):512-536. doi: 10.1177/0269881120920420. Epub 2020 Sep 10. J Psychopharmacol. 2021. PMID: 32909493 Free PMC article. Review.
Cited by
-
The Psychedelic Future of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment.Curr Neuropharmacol. 2024;22(4):636-735. doi: 10.2174/1570159X22666231027111147. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2024. PMID: 38284341 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Trauma-Informed Care in Psychedelic Therapy Research: A Qualitative Literature Review of Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Interventions in PTSD and Psychedelic Therapy Across Conditions.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2024 Jan 20;20:109-135. doi: 10.2147/NDT.S432537. eCollection 2024. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2024. PMID: 38268571 Free PMC article. Review.
-
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD in adolescents: rationale, potential, risks, and considerations.Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2023 Oct 10. doi: 10.1007/s00787-023-02310-9. Online ahead of print. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2023. PMID: 37814082 Review.
-
Social anxiety and MDMA-assisted therapy investigation: a novel clinical trial protocol.Front Psychiatry. 2023 Jul 14;14:1083354. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1083354. eCollection 2023. Front Psychiatry. 2023. PMID: 37520237 Free PMC article.
-
Perceived key change phenomena of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of severe PTSD: an interpretative phenomenological analysis of clinical integration sessions.Front Psychiatry. 2023 Jul 7;14:957824. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.957824. eCollection 2023. Front Psychiatry. 2023. PMID: 37484678 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical
Miscellaneous