Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the primary indication for MDMA-assisted therapy, which showed unprecedented efficacy in Phase 3 trials — with 67% of participants no longer meeting PTSD criteria after treatment. Following an FDA rejection in August 2024, sponsors are preparing resubmission with additional safety data, and multiple other compounds are entering the PTSD pipeline.
Psilocybin and ayahuasca are also being studied for PTSD, particularly for veterans and first responders. The combination of a therapeutic session structure with the substance's ability to reduce fear responses and facilitate emotional processing makes PTSD one of the most compelling targets in psychedelic medicine.
What clinical research has shown for PTSD, with citations to the studies behind each finding
In the first phase 3 trial (MAPP1), MDMA-assisted therapy significantly reduced PTSD severity compared with placebo plus identical therapy. Two months after treatment, 67% of the MDMA group no longer met diagnostic criteria for PTSD.
MAPP2, a second phase 3 trial in people with moderate-to-severe PTSD, met its primary and key secondary endpoints — confirming the efficacy and safety findings of the first phase 3 study.
These summaries are for general education, not medical advice. Most psychedelic therapies remain investigational and are not yet approved — always consult a qualified clinician.
12 trials currently recruiting
Scottsdale Research Institute
Nathan Brashares Sackett
Johns Hopkins University
Yale University
Ohio State University
Carolina L Haass-Koffler
Organizations with active ptsd research programs