On March 22-24, 2011, MAPS Lead Clinical Research Associate Berra Yazar-Klosinski, Ph.D., and MAPS Clinical Research Intern Katie Hendy, M.A., and MAPS Director of Finance and IT Josh Sonstroem (who is also responsible for encapsulating and randomizing study MDMA) visited Charleston, SC, to initiate our therapist training protocol for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. The study has now screened its first participant. The protocol was designed as a Phase 1 study of the psychological effects of MDMA in healthy volunteers, with subjects limited to people in MAPS’ therapist training program. In addition to providing new information about the effects of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy in healthy volunteers, the study will enable us to train therapists to conduct future MDMA/PTSD studies. With MAPS preparing to expand its research program to move even closer towards regulatory approval of MDMA as a prescription medicine, there will be more need for therapists trained in MAPS’ approach to MDMA-assisted psychotherapy than ever before. The study is led by Clinical Investigators Michael Mithoefer, M.D., and Annie Mithoefer, B.S.N. Julie Holland, M.D., is the official medical monitor.
