MDMA for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Collaboration with Professor John Bisson, Dr Ben Sessa and Dr Mat Hoskins

This study will investigate the efficacy of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for participants with chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD, examining the brain mechanisms underlying MDMA’s therapeutic effect. Specifically, it will probe activity in the amygdala, the brain region known to play a primary role in emotional and fear responses. One of our previous brain imaging studies in healthy subjects showed that MDMA decreases activity in the amygdala and lessens the impact of traumatic memories. This study will determine whether decreased amygdala activity in those suffering from PTSD is associated with a reduction in their stress response to painful memories under MDMA.