Project Status:

Active

Description:

Dr. Christy Capone and Dr. Erica Eaton’s ongoing pilot project utilizes a longitudinal design to conduct an open label pilot trial of MDMA assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) in veterans with co-occurring post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). The primary objective of this project is to collect pilot data on the safety, feasibility, and acceptability of MDMA-AT in veterans with PTSD-AUD (N=12) and to evaluate changes in PTSD and alcohol use severity. Following a screening and a baseline assessment, participants go on to complete 11 weekly sessions of MDMA-AT, including two experimental sessions during which MDMA is administered. Participants also participate in the imaging protocol pre- (week 1) and post-MDMA-AT (week 12) and are clinically assessed immediately post-treatment. 

Mentor: 

Carolina Haass-Koffler, Pharm.D., Ph.D., Brown University

Collaborators & Consultants:

Allison Feduccia, Ph.D., Psychedelic Support and Project New Day
Mollie Monnig, Ph.D., Brown University
Michael Worden, Ph.D., Brown University

Research Team: 

Brian Gully, M.A., Project Coordinator
Sithara Nambiar, Research Assistant

Study Therapists:

Nancy Brand, Ph.D., Providence VA Medical Center
Elise McDonald, MSW, Providence VA Medical Center
Lauren Reeves, Ph.D., Providence VA Medical Center, Brown University
Tracie Shea, Ph.D., Providence VA Medical Center, Brown University

Study Physician:

Robert Swift, M.D., Ph.D., Brown University