Session in Switzerland
| Dear MAPS Members and Friends,
I am excited to share with you that on Friday, January 8, 2010, the final experimental session took place in our Swiss study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The twelfth and final subject received MDMA in the Stage 2 open-label portion of the trial, which means that he had previously been randomized to receive three experimental sessions with the low-dose placebo. The final data point in this study will be two months from this last session. One year from now will be the final data point in the long-term follow-up study of these 12 subjects. We are pleased to report that just like our U.S. MDMA/PTSD pilot study, there was an excellent safety record. There was no evidence of harm caused to any of the subjects by administering research grade MDMA in a therapeutic setting. This fact alone is noteworthy when put in contrast with all of the exaggerated risk estimates over the past 25+ years claiming serious brain damage from a single dose of MDMA. Even more noteworthy for the future of prescription MDMA-assisted psychotherapy is that preliminary data analysis suggests statistically significant results in reduction of PTSD symptoms. We at MAPS want to thank you for your support in funding this project. It has been over three years and over $225,000 since this study was officially initiated on October 19, 2006. It will be a few more years before we complete all of our Phase 2 studies, leading to an End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA to plan our Phase 3 studies, which will take another 3-5 years to complete. Through patience, diligence, rigorous scientific methodology, exceptional therapists and courageous patients, we can transform MDMA into a prescription medicine approved by the U.S. FDA and the European Medicines Agency. We are grateful that we can count on your support through this process! |
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Sincerely, Randolph Hencken, M.A. |
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P.S. Registrations for Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century are selling quickly, I recommend that you register now to reserve your space. We have also added a student rate of just $225, $50 off the regular rate for students currently enrolled in graduate school, college, or primary education. |
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What’s happening at MAPS:
MAPS in the Media: Be sure to check out MAPS media archive for a few great articles that have appeared in the past month including: |
Have you purchased your registration yet? We have collected a most impressive list of presenters from around the world for the Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century conference. Michael Mithoefer, M.D. and Peter Oehen, M.D. will present results from their research with MDMA-assisted psychotherapy to treat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Roland Griffiths M.D. and William Richards, Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University will present findings from their studies with psilocybin to catalyze mystical experiences and to ease anxiety associated with life-threatening illnesses. UCLA researcher Charles Grob M.D. and NYU research Steve Ross will present findings from their studies administering psilocybin to patients with terminal cancer diagnoses. Neuroscientist Franz Vollenweider, M.D. will come from Switzerland to share findings from his brain imaging research with humans under the influence of LSD and other psychedelics. These are just a few of the fascinating research projects being showcased at the conference. A few pioneers from the early days of psychedelic research will give talks, including co-founder of transpersonal psychology Stanislav Grof M.D., psychotherapist Ralph Metzner, Ph.D., and James Fadiman, Ph.D. Jim Fadiman and Stan Grof were among the last researchers to administer LSD to subjects in 1972 when the federal government shut down psychedelic research. Jim Fadiman was studying whether low doses of LSD helped the creative process among scientists, Stan Grof was working with cancer patients, alcoholics and heroin addicts. They have much to say 38 years later. Were also presenting pre- and post-conference workshops to delve deeper into some of the subjects. Dr. Mithoefer, Annie Mithoefer, B.S.N. and Rick Doblin, Ph.D. will be giving a full day workshop about MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. Dr. Vollenweider will partner with medicinal chemist and pharmacologist David Nichols, Ph.D. to lead a full-day seminar about the neuroscience of psychedelics. Stan Grof, Ralph Metzner, Allyson and Aley Grey, Carolyn Mountain Girl Garcia and Annie Oak (Harrison) will also be offered workshops. You know you want to be at this conference. So what are you waiting for? Register today! |
MAPS Gift of the month This month we are pleased to offer the brand new book The Harvard Psychedelic Club by Don Lattin to any new member who makes a donation of $40 or more or to any current member who makes a donation of $25 or more. To retrieve your gift go to our donation page and type in MAPS in the coupon field (note: must be CAPITALIZED). The Harvard Psychedelic Club: This is the story of how three brilliant scholars and one ambitious freshman crossed paths in the early sixties at a Harvard-sponsored psychedelic-drug research project. Their work and legacy transformed American culture and launched the mind/body/spirit movement. Their experimentation and their exploration of an expanded consciousness set the stage for the social, spiritual, sexual, and psychological revolution of the 1960s. It was meant to be a time of joy, of peace, and of love, but behind the scenes lurked backstabbing, jealousy, and outright betrayal. In spite of their personal conflicts, the members of the Harvard Psychedelic Club would forever change the way Americans view religion and practice medicine, and the very way we look at body and soul. Want to browse inside the book, view a trailer, join the club, and learn more? Visit HarvardPsychedelicClub.com. |
2010 Transpersonal Psychology Conference
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From February 12 14, 2010, some of the most prominent figures in transpersonal psychology from around the globe will converge at Menlo College in Atherton, California, to discuss innovative, holistic approaches to psychotherapy, health, healing trauma, social relationships and global consciousness. The 2010 conference, Spirituality in Action: Bringing Transpersonal Psychology to a World in Crisis will offer multidisciplinary and integrative approaches to human potential, self-development, relationship and community that can help alleviate some of the worlds greatest crises. Learn more and register at: www.atpweb.org |
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