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Post Traumatic Stress DisorderPhase 2NCT05790239

MDMA-Assisted Therapy for Veterans With Moderate to Severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

A Phase 2 study testing 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, d-amphetamine and Therapy in people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, run by Stephen Robert Marder at 2 sites in United States.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

This randomized, double-blind, single-site phase II 2-arm study will investigate the safety and preliminary efficacy of MDMA-assisted therapy compared with low dose d-amphetamine-assisted therapy on the severity of PTSD symptoms in participants aged 18 years and older with PTSD of at least moderate severity. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
What is being tested?
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, d-amphetamine and Therapy
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
40 participants
Where
2 sitesUnited States
Study dates
1 Mar 2025to 1 Mar 2028
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • At Screening, meet DSM-5 criteria for current PTSD with a symptom duration of at least 6 months.
  • Fluent in speaking and reading the predominantly used or recognized language of the study site (English).
  • Must be a veteran enrolled at a VA Healthcare Center in the Greater Los Angeles area.
  • Able to swallow pills.
  • Agree to have study visits audiovisually recorded, including Experimental Sessions, IR assessments, and non-drug therapy sessions.
  • Able to provide 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 the participant becoming unwell or unreachable.
Show all 11Show fewer
  • Able to identify appropriate support person(s) to stay with the participant on the evenings of Experimental Sessions if needed.
  • May have well-controlled hypertension that has been successfully treated with anti-hypertensive medicines, if they pass additional screening to rule out underlying cardiovascular disease.
  • May have asymptomatic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) that has previously undergone evaluation and treatment as needed.
  • Body weight of at least 45 kilograms (kg). Participants with a body weight of 45-48 kg must also have a body mass index (BMI) within the range of 18 to 30 kg/m2. BMI must be within 18 to 32 kg/m2 (inclusive).
  • A person able to be pregnant (PABP) must use a highly effective contraceptive method.

Who cannot join

  • Are not able to give adequate informed consent.
  • Have evidence or history of significant medical or psychiatric disorders.
  • Are abusing illegal drugs.
  • Unable or unwilling to safely taper off prohibited psychiatric medication.
  • Current enrollment in any other clinical study involving an investigational study treatment or any other type of medical research, unless approved by the study clinician.

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Stephanie L Taylor, PhD contact

213-505-1140

Stephanie.Taylor8@va.gov

Stephen Marder, MD contact

Stephen.Marder@va.gov

United States2 sites, 2 recruiting
  • VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Westwood campus

    Los Angeles, California, 90073

    Stephanie L Taylor, PhD

    Stephen Marder, MD

    Not yet recruiting
  • West Los Angeles Veteran Affairs

    Los Angeles, California, 90095

    Gerard DeVera, BA, 310-478-3711, Gerard.Devera@va.gov

    Gerard De Vera, 310-478-3711 ext. 44932, gerard.devera@va.gov

    Recruiting

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Single-Site Phase II 2-Arm Study to Compare the Safety and Preliminary Efficacy of Manualized MDMA-Assisted Therapy to Low Dose D-Amphetamine Assisted Therapy in Veterans For The Treatment of Moderate to Severe PTSD

This randomized, double-blind, single-site phase II 2-arm study will investigate the safety and preliminary efficacy of MDMA-assisted therapy compared with low dose d-amphetamine-assisted therapy on the severity of PTSD symptoms in participants aged 18 years and older with PTSD of at least moderate severity.

Read the detailed description

This randomized, double-blind, single-site phase II 2-arm study will compare MDMA-assisted therapy with low dose d-amphetamine-assisted therapy to treat PTSD symptoms in veteran participants aged 18 years and older with PTSD of at least moderate severity, as measured by the change in CAPS-5 total severity score. The study will be conducted in up to N=40 participants from the Greater Los Angeles VA randomized with a 1:1 allocation to Group 1: MDMA-assisted therapy or Group 2: low dose d-amphetamine assisted therapy.

For each participant, the study will consist of:

  • Screening Period: phone screen, informed consent, eligibility assessment, Screening CAPS-5, and Initial Enrollment of eligible participants.
  • Preparatory Period: medication tapering, three Preparatory Sessions, baseline assessments (including Baseline CAPS-5), leading to Enrollment Confirmation.
  • Treatment Period: three Experimental Sessions, and three Integrative Sessions following each Experimental Session including CAPS-5 assessments.
  • Follow-up Period and Study Termination: Primary Outcome CAPS-5 assessment and Study Termination visit.
Being tested
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, d-amphetamine, Therapy
Keywords
MDMA, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, Functional Impairment, Veteran, Substance Use Disorder, Chronic Pain
Medical subject headings
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Substance-Related Disorders, Chronic Pain

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamineDrug

    Also called MDMA

    Initial doses per Experimental Session include 68 mg or 100 mg MDMA (equivalent to 80 mg or 120 mg MDMA HCl), followed 1.5 to 2 hours later by a supplemental dose of 34 mg or 50 mg MDMA (equivalent to 40 mg or 60 mg MDMA HCl).

  • d-amphetamineDrug

    Initial dose per experimental session will be 5 mg or 10 mg d-amphetamine, followed 1.5 to 2 hours later by supplemental dose of 2.5 mg or 5 mg d-amphetamine.

  • TherapyBehavioural

    Participants assigned to MDMA and d-amphetamine will undergo a therapeutic approach, which is detailed in the MDMA-Assisted Therapy Treatment Manual and administered by MAPS-trained therapists. In brief, this therapy is guided by the subject's own recollections of traumatic events. The subject and two therapists provide a comfortable and supportive environment and allow the subject to guide the discussion. Subjects are encouraged to experience and express fear, anger, and grief with less likelihood of feeling overwhelmed by these emotions. MDMA seems to engender internal awareness that even painful feelings that arise are an important part of the therapeutic process. In addition, feelings of empathy, love, and deep appreciation often emerge, along with a clearer perspective of the trauma as a past event, a more accurate perspective about its significance, and a heightened awareness of the support and safety that exists in the present.

Study groups in NCT05790239
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
MDMA-Assisted TherapyExperimentalParticipants will receive a flexible divided-dose of MDMA plus therapy at Experimental Sessions.
Receives: Drug: 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine; Behavioral: Therapy
Low Dose D-Amphetamine Assisted TherapyActive comparatorParticipants will receive a flexible divided dose plus therapy at Experimental Sessions.
Receives: Drug: d-amphetamine; Behavioral: Therapy

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Compare changes in PTSD symptom severity in the MDMA vs active control group.

    The Primary Outcome measure will be the change in Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) Total Severity Score from Baseline to Visit 17, assessed by a blinded study staff rater.

    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.

    Measured: Visit 17 (approximately 14 weeks after enrollment)

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Compare changes in clinician-rated functional impairment in the MDMA vs active control group.

    The secondary outcome measure will be the change in the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), assessed by a blinded study staff rater.

    The SDS is a 5-item measure of functional impairment. The items indicate the degree of impairment in the domains of work/school, social life, and home life, with response options based on a 10-point scale (0=not at all to 10=extremely), and five verbal tags (not at all, mildly, moderately, markedly, extremely). The first three items indicate the degree of impairment in the domains of work/school, social life, and home life, with response options based on a 10-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.

    The three numerical items can be scored, and total scores range from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating higher impairment.

    Measured: Visit 17 (approximately 14 weeks after enrollment)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted30 Mar 2023
  2. Study start1 Mar 2025
  3. Primary completionMar 2028 (estimated)
  4. Study completion1 Mar 2028 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
This is a randomized study. Participants will be 1:1 randomized to receive either MDMA or d-amphetamine. Stratified randomization will be used, with gender as the stratification variable. Within each of the two strata, the investigators use permuted randomized blocks with a block size of 4.
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator
Enrolment
40 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05790239
Sponsor's protocol ID
IVAPT3
Status last verified
Aug 2026
First submitted
13 Mar 2023
Last updated
19 Aug 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Some of the outcome data will be shared. The specific data to be shared has not yet been determined.

Publications

  • Mitchell JM, Bogenschutz M, Lilienstein A, Harrison C, Kleiman S, Parker-Guilbert K, Ot'alora G M, Garas W, Paleos C, Gorman I, Nicholas C, Mithoefer M, Carlin S, Poulter B, Mithoefer A, Quevedo S, Wells G, Klaire SS, van der Kolk B, Tzarfaty K, Amiaz R, Worthy R, Shannon S, Woolley JD, Marta C, Gelfand Y, Hapke E, Amar S, Wallach Y, Brown R, Hamilton S, Wang JB, Coker A, Matthews R, de Boer A, Yazar-Klosinski B, Emerson A, Doblin R. MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. Nat Med. 2021 Jun;27(6):1025-1033. doi: 10.1038/s41591-021-01336-3. Epub 2021 May 10.

    PubMed 33972795
  • Mithoefer MC, Wagner MT, Mithoefer AT, Jerome L, Doblin R. The safety and efficacy of +/-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy in subjects with chronic, treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder: the first randomized controlled pilot study. J Psychopharmacol. 2011 Apr;25(4):439-52. doi: 10.1177/0269881110378371. Epub 2010 Jul 19.

    PubMed 20643699
  • Grob CS, Poland RE, Chang L, Ernst T. Psychobiologic effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine in humans: methodological considerations and preliminary observations. Behav Brain Res. 1996;73(1-2):103-7. doi: 10.1016/0166-4328(96)00078-2.

    PubMed 8788485
  • Mithoefer, M., A Manual for MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Version 8.1. 2017: http://www.maps.org/research/mdma/mdma-research-timeline/4887-a-manual-for-mdma-assisted-psychotherapy-in-the-treatment-of-ptsd.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, d-amphetamine and Therapy in people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, run by Stephen Robert Marder at 2 sites in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 11 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Stephanie L Taylor, PhD (213-505-1140, Stephanie.Taylor8@va.gov), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Compare changes in PTSD symptom severity in the MDMA vs active control group. (time frame: Visit 17 (approximately 14 weeks after enrollment)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05790239, which also lists 4 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 19 Aug 2026.

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