Can MDMA help couples heal from trauma together?
NCT ID NCT06044675
First seen Aug 19, 2026 · Last updated Aug 20, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether adding MDMA to a couples-based therapy for PTSD can improve symptoms and relationship satisfaction more than therapy alone. Participants are couples where one person has PTSD, and they will receive either 7 weeks of cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy (CBCT) with two MDMA sessions or CBCT without MDMA. The goal is to see if MDMA helps couples engage more deeply in therapy and recover together.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- MDMA (also known as ecstasy) used as a therapy aid alongside cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy (CBCT), a couples-based psychotherapy for PTSD.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward a new treatment option for PTSD that not only reduces symptoms but also strengthens relationships, offering hope for couples affected by trauma.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-phase trial with a small number of participants, so results may not apply broadly. MDMA can cause side effects like increased heart rate, anxiety, or emotional distress, and the therapy requires careful supervision.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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About 60 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Nov 2024
- Expected to finish
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Mar 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 80 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria * Participant with PTSD 1. Participant with PTSD 2. Meet criteria for PTSD 3. Have a close other person who is able and willing to participate in this study 4. Are at least 18 years old 5. Are a resident of Ontario and live within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) 6. Are in good physical health 7. Are proficient in speaking and reading English 8. Are willing to have all visits audio and video recorded 9. Are able to swallow pills 10. Agree to all study rules and commit to all medical and therapy visits 11. If in psychotherapy, are willing to allow the study therapists to communicate directly with your therapist 12. Are willing to stop taking psychiatric medications, herbal supplements, prescription and nonprescription medications during the study 13. Agree to stay overnight on two separate occasions after each full-day MDMA-Assisted Therapy Session, and not to drive for at least 24 hours after taking MDMA 14. Are not pregnant and will commit to not becoming pregnant during the study, if you are able to become pregnant 15. Have a supportive relative, spouse, close friend or other caregiver not participating in this study who can serve as your emergency contact 16. Agree to inform the researchers within 48 hours of any medical conditions and procedures 17. Agree to not participate in any other clinical trials during this study * Close Significant Other 1. Have a close other person who meets criteria for PTSD and is able and willing to participate in this study 2. Are at least 18 years old 3. Are a resident of Ontario and live within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) 4. Are in good physical health 5. Are proficient in speaking and reading English 6. Are willing to have all visits audio and video recorded 7. Are able to swallow pills 8. Agree to all study rules and commit to all medical and therapy visits 9. If in psychotherapy, are willing to allow the study therapists to communicate directly with your therapist 10. Are willing to stop taking psychiatric medications, herbal supplements, prescription and nonprescription medications during the study 11. Agree to stay overnight on two separate occasions after each full-day MDMA-Assisted Therapy Session, and not to drive for at least 24 hours after taking MDMA 12. Are not pregnant and will commit to not becoming pregnant during the study, if you are able to become pregnant 13. Have a supportive relative, spouse, close friend or other caregiver not participating in this study who can serve as your emergency contact 14. Agree to inform the researchers within 48 hours of any medical conditions and procedure 15. Agree to not participate in any other clinical trials during this study Exclusion Criteria * Participant with PTSD 1. Are pregnant or could become pregnant and not using birth control 2. Have a history of, or a current psychotic disorder or bipolar 1 disorder or dissociative identity disorder 3. Have a history of a medical condition that could make receiving MDMA unsafe (e.g. glaucoma, heart attack, stroke, aneurysm) 4. Have a history of Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2) that a doctor determines is not stable 5. Have hypothyroidism (low activity in the thyroid gland) and are not on thyroid replacement 6. Have high blood pressure, a history of heart disease, heart failure, irregular activity in the heart or require heart medication 7. Have liver disease with symptoms 8. Have history of hyponatremia (when you have decreased levels of sodium in the blood, which can cause confusion, seizures, fatigue and low levels of consciousness) 9. Have history of hyperthermia (when you have a dangerously overheated body, usually in response to hot, humid weather) 10. Weigh less than 48 kg 11. Have recently engaged in suicidal behaviour or had serious suicidal thoughts (this will be assessed by the study team) 12. Require ongoing therapy with a psychiatric medication 13. Have a current eating disorder with active purging 14. Have current major depressive disorder with psychotic features 15. Are a serious risk to others 16. Have recently received Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) 17. Have recently engaged in ketamine-assisted therapy or used ketamine 18. Have current substance use disorder with physiological dependence (not including caffeine or nicotine) 19. Have recently used "Ecstasy" (material represented as containing MDMA) 20. Are not able to give adequate informed consent 21. Are not able to adhere to the requirements for procedures, attendance and timing of visits, and observe limits regarding study staff time and support as indicated by a time-limited clinical trial 22. Are currently engaged in compensation litigation whereby financial gain would be achieved from prolonged symptoms of PTSD or any other psychiatric disorders * Close Significant Other 1. Meet criteria for PTSD 2. Are pregnant or could become pregnant and not using birth control 3. Have a history of, or a current psychotic disorder or bipolar 1 disorder or dissociative identity disorder 4. Have a history of a medical condition that could make receiving MDMA unsafe (e.g. glaucoma, heart attack, stroke, aneurysm) 5. Have a history of Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2) that a doctor determines is not stable 6. Have hypothyroidism (low activity in the thyroid gland) and are not on thyroid replacement 7. Have high blood pressure, a history of heart disease, heart failure, irregular activity in the heart or require heart medication 8. Have liver disease with symptoms 9. Have history of hyponatremia (when you have decreased levels of sodium in the blood, which can cause confusion, seizures, fatigue and low levels of consciousness) 10. Have history of hyperthermia (when you have a dangerously overheated body, usually in response to hot, humid weather) 11. Weigh less than 48 kg 12. Have recently engaged in suicidal behaviour or had serious suicidal thoughts (this will be assessed by the study team) 13. Require ongoing therapy with a psychiatric medication 14. Have a current eating disorder with active purging 15. Have current major depressive disorder with psychotic features 16. Are a serious risk to others 17. Have recently received Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) 18. Have recently engaged in ketamine-assisted therapy or used ketamine 19. Have current substance use disorder with physiological dependence (not including caffeine or nicotine) 20. Have recently used "Ecstasy" (material represented as containing MDMA) 21. Are not able to give adequate informed consent 22. Are not able to adhere to the requirements for procedures, attendance and timing of visits, and observe limits regarding study staff time and support as indicated by a time-limited clinical trial 23. Are currently engaged in compensation litigation whereby financial gain would be achieved from prolonged symptoms of PTSD or any other psychiatric disorders
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The study's own enquiry address
This study publishes an address for enquiries. See it below .
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
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Contacts and locations
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Study contacts
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Contact
Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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Remedy Institute
RECRUITINGToronto, Ontario, M6G 1L5, Canada
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