Group MDMA-therapy for Veterans With PTSD
- Registration Number
- NCT05961527
- Lead Sponsor
- Portland VA Research Foundation, Inc
- Brief Summary
This Phase 2a, open-label, non-randomized, 3-cohort study assesses the feasibility and safety of MDMA-assisted group therapy for the treatment of PTSD in veterans. The study will be conducted in up to N=18 participants, recruited in three cohorts of six participants each and receive therapy sessions throughout their participation in these group cohorts.
- Detailed Description
To assess the feasibility and safety of MDMA-assisted group therapy for participants with at least moderate PTSD, the sponsor-investigator is conducting a phase 2, open-label, non-randomized, 3-cohort study. This novel treatment package consists of two once-monthly open-label MDMA Sessions combined with non-drug preparatory and integrative therapy administered in both individual and group sessions. The Primary Clinical Outcome measure, the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5), evaluates changes in PTSD symptom severity and is assessed by a blinded centralized Independent Rater (IR) pool. The therapeutic approach will combine manualized MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD with group therapy components.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 23
- Are at least 18 years old.
- Are a U.S. Military Veteran
- Are fluent in speaking and reading the predominantly used or recognized language of the study site.
- Are able to swallow pills.
- Agree to have study visits recorded, including MDMA Sessions, outcome assessments, and non-drug psychotherapy sessions.
- Must provide a contact who is willing and able to be reached by the investigators in the event of a participant becoming suicidal or unreachable.
- Must agree 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 contraception through 10 days after the last Experimental Session.
- Must not participate in any other interventional clinical trials during the duration of the study.
- Must commit to medication dosing, therapy, and study procedures.
- Have a current PTSD diagnosis at the time of screening.
- Are not able to give adequate informed consent.
- Have uncontrolled hypertension.
- Have a marked baseline QTcF interval >450 milliseconds [ms] demonstrated on repeated ECG assessments.
- Have a history of additional risk factors for Torsade de pointes (e.g., heart failure, hypokalemia, family history of Long QT Syndrome).
- Have evidence or history of significant medical disorders.
- Have symptomatic liver or biliary disease.
- 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 birth control.
- Are abusing illegal drugs or alcohol.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- SINGLE_GROUP
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description MDMA-assisted group therapy Group Therapy Four Preparatory Sessions, two MDMA Sessions, and four Integrative Sessions following each MDMA Session. MDMA-assisted group therapy MDMA Four Preparatory Sessions, two MDMA Sessions, and four Integrative Sessions following each MDMA Session.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in CAPS-5 Total Severity Score Baseline - 3 months from first Experimental Session The CAPS-5 is a semi-structured interview that assesses index history of DSM-5-defined traumatic event exposure, including the most distressing event, time since exposure, to produce a diagnostic score (presence vs. absence) and a PTSD Total Severity score. The CAPS-5 rates intrusion symptoms (intrusive thoughts or memories), avoidance, cognitive and mood symptoms, arousal and reactivity symptoms, duration and degree of distress and dissociation. The total severity score is a sum of symptom frequency and intensity scores for the subscales B (re-experiencing), C (avoidance) and D (hypervigilance) and ranges from 0 to 136, with higher scores indicating greater severity of PTSD symptoms.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) Baseline - 3 months from first Experimental Session Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) total score, a measure of clinician-rated functional impairment. The first three items indicate degree of impairment in the domains of work/school, social life, and home life, with response options based on an eleven-point scale (0=not at all to 10=extremely), and five verbal tags (not at all, mildly, moderately, markedly, extremely). The remaining two items assess Days Lost and Days Unproductive during the reporting period.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Portland-Vancouver VA
🇺🇸Vancouver, Washington, United States