Group MDMA-therapy for Veterans With PTSD

PTSD Clinical Trial

— Group-MVP  

Official title:

An Open-Label Feasibility and Safety Study of MDMA-Assisted Group Therapy for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05961527
• Other study ID #: 02
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: Phase 1/Phase 2
• Start date: October 1, 2023
• Est. completion date: September 30, 2025

Study information

• Verified date: November 2023
• Source: Portland VA Research Foundation, Inc
• Contact: Kevin Rothstein-Kightly, MS
• Phone: 360-450-9349
• Email: Kevin.Rothstein-Kightly[@]va.gov
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial 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.

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 information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 18
• Est. completion date: September 30, 2025
• Est. primary completion date: July 31, 2025
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 64 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• 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.

Exclusion Criteria:

• 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.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• PTSD

Intervention

Drug:
• MDMA
Initial dose of 120 mg MDMA HCL and optional supplemental dose of 60 mg MDMA HCL at 1.5 to 2 hours after first dose

Behavioral:
• Group Therapy
Standardized group psychotherapy performed by therapist team in combination with non-directive MDMA therapy

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Portland-Vancouver VA	Vancouver	Washington

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Portland VA Research Foundation, Inc	Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Change in CAPS-5 Total Severity Score	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.	Baseline - 3 months from first Experimental Session
Secondary	Change in Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS)	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.	Baseline - 3 months from first Experimental Session