MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy For Alcohol Use Disorder Could Reduce Relapse, Study Suggests (Ep. 174)

Synopsis: In this episode, Chris Scott and Matt Finch discuss the brand new research outcomes on the first study of safety and tolerability of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for alcohol use disorder. The study was done by Imperial College London and was published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology on February 18th, 2021. While the study had very positive outcomes, more research and studies are still needed.

Here is a snippet of the study:

Aims: This study aimed to assess if MDMA-assisted psychotherapy can be delivered safely and can be tolerated by patients with AUD post detoxification. Outcomes regarding drinking behaviour, quality of life and psychosocial functioning were evaluated. Methods: Fourteen patients with AUD completed a community alcohol detoxification and received an eight-week course of recovery-based therapy. Participants received two sessions with MDMA (187.5 mg each session). Psychological support was provided before, during and after each session. Safety and tolerability were assessed alongside psychological and physiological outcome measures. Alcohol use behaviour, mental well-being and functioning data were collected for nine months after alcohol detoxification.

Results: MDMA treatment was well tolerated by all participants. No unexpected adverse events were observed. Psychosocial functioning improved across the cohort. Regarding alcohol use, at nine months post detox, the average units of alcohol consumption by participants was 18.7 units per week compared to 130.6 units per week before the detox. This compares favourably to a previous observational study (the ‘Outcomes’ study) by the same team with a similar population of people with AUD.

Conclusions: This study provides preliminary support for the safety and tolerability of a novel intervention for AUD post detox. Further trials to examine better the therapeutic potential of this approach are now indicated.