This is a phase 1, open-label study to assess changes in mental well-being following MDMA administration within a therapeutic setting, in mental health providers who are in training to become MDMA assisted therapists. Secondary outcome measures will examine the effects on provider burnout, provider self-efficacy, mood, self-compassion, quality of life, and other psychological factors. Participants will work with a co-therapy pair as they engage in a preparatory session, one experimental session with MDMA, and an integration session the following day.
This study is investigating the psychological and biological effects and safety of MDMA-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) in healthy volunteers who are: 1) mental healthcare providers or trainees, and 2) learning or have been certified to conduct MDMA-AT. As research in MDMA-AT expands, there is a need to evaluate the safety and efficacy of MDMA-assisted therapy in healthy volunteers, in order to better understand its effects in populations beyond clinical samples and to inform future comparisons. This study will assess whether a relatively brief intervention (consisting of one MDMA-AT session with one preparatory and one integration session) can improve overall mental wellbeing in a healthy sample of mental healthcare providers, while also evaluating its effects on provider burnout, self-assessed counselor efficacy, mood, psychological flexibility, quality of life, and experiential avoidance. In addition, this study supports continued training for new MDMA-AT providers, including the option for their own MDMA experience to expand on their knowledge of the subjective effects and therapeutic potential of MDMA-AT and enhance their qualifications to provide that therapy. Participants will engage in structured preparation, treatment, and follow-up, guided by trained clinical professionals. Assessments will take place throughout the study to monitor mental health outcomes and ensure participant well-being. Participation will consist of: - Screening Period (up to 4 weeks): Phone screen, informed consent, eligibility assessment, and enrollment. - Preparatory Period (1-4 weeks): Preparatory session with study clinicians, baseline assessments. - Treatment Period (2 days): Experimental session (MDMA administered in a controlled therapeutic setting) followed by an integrative session the next day. - Follow-Up Period (up to 4 weeks): Follow-up visit approximately one month after experimental session, outcome assessments, and study termination.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
Initial dose of 120 mg MDMA HCl in a therapeutic setting, followed 1.5 to 2 hours later by a supplemental dose of 40 mg MDMA HCl. Supplemental doses may be withheld if tolerability issues emerge or it is declined by the participant.
The Parsons Research Center for Psychedelic Healing
New York, New York, United States
RECRUITINGMental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF)
The MHC-SF is a self-report measure consisting of 14 questions rated for the frequency at which they are experienced, on a scale from "0-never" to "5-every day" within the past month. The MHC-SF is a shortened version of the Mental Health Continuum Long Form (MHC-LF), a 40-item measure which was developed to assess emotional, social, and psychological well-being, a three factor structure validated in national and international populations. The MHC-SF was developed using a subset of items from the MHC-LF to represent each of these three well-being constructs: The MHC-SF yields a total score range of 0-70, where higher scores reflect greater mental well-being. Subscale ranges are: Emotional Well-Being: 0-15 (3 items), Psychological Well-Being: : 0-30 (6 items), and Social Well-Being: 0-25 (5 items). Subscale scores reflect functioning in each domain, while the total score captures overall mental well-being.
Time frame: At baseline and 28 days post-treatment
The Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS)
The MBI-HSS is a 22-item survey scored from 0-6 per item, producing a total score range of 0-132, where higher scores indicate poorer health outcomes. This 22-item survey addresses 3 scales: Emotional Exhaustion: 0-42, which measures feelings of being emotionally overextended and exhausted by one's work; Depersonalization: 0-42, which measures an unfeeling and impersonal response toward recipients of one's service, care treatment, or instruction; and Personal Accomplishment: 0-48, which measures feelings of competence and successful achievement in one's work.
Time frame: At baseline and 28 days post-treatment
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
NA
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
30