On October 23, 2014, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), a non-profit research and educational organization, will present a lecture on MDMA-assisted therapies to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety at its new satellite offices located at Sofia University in Palo Alto. Transforming Medicine: The Role of MDMA in Mental Health Care is an evening lecture by the originators of the therapeutic protocol behind MAPS’ clinical studies of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD.
Contact:
Brad Burge, MAPS
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PALO ALTO, Calif.—On October 23, 2014, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), a non-profit research and educational organization, will present a lecture on MDMA-assisted therapies to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety at its new satellite offices located at Sofia University in Palo Alto. Transforming Medicine: The Role of MDMA in Mental Health Care is an evening lecture by the originators of the therapeutic protocol behind MAPS’ clinical studies of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD.
The MAPS Palo Alto office—with lecture facilities, meeting rooms, and workspaces—will facilitate connections with the growing network of Silicon Valley and Bay Area individuals and organizations that support research into the risks and benefits of psychedelics and medical marijuana.
MAPS Executive Director Rick Doblin, Ph.D., founded MAPS in 1986 and is a widely sought public speaker and expert on psychedelic research policy, funding, and advocacy. In his presentation, Rick will discuss MAPS’ plans to develop MDMA-assisted psychotherapy into a legal treatment for PTSD and to become a sustainable non-profit research organization.
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy researchers Michael Mithoefer, M.D., and Annie Mithoefer, B.S.N., will share their experience with PTSD study participants, and the process of developing the MDMA-assisted psychotherapy protocol. Their completed MAPS-sponsored Phase 2 clinical trial testing MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology (July 2010), showed that 83% of subjects receiving MDMA-assisted psychotherapy no longer qualified for PTSD after treatment. Primarily female survivors of sexual assault and abuse, these subjects had suffered from PTSD for an average of 19 years. A follow up study demonstrated that these astonishing results were sustained over three and a half years on average. The Mithoefers are currently conducting a second clinical trial for veterans, police officers, and firefighters with service-related PTSD, and are developing training programs for MAPS researchers.
MAPS is a non-profit research and educational organization developing novel approaches to treating some of the world’s most challenging mental health issues. MAPS is sponsoring international Phase 2 using MDMA combined with therapy for chronic PTSD, anxiety associated with advanced-stage illness, and social anxiety in autistic adults. These treatments combines talk therapy with the use of MDMA, a synthetic compound that may increase the effectiveness of psychotherapy by strengthening the alliance between therapist and patient, and help subjects feel more comfortable processing difficult memories and emotions.
Date and Time: October 23, 2014, 7:00 PM—9:00 PM
Place: Sofia University, 1069 E. Meadow Circle, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Cost: $15. A limited number of discounted tickets are available for students, veterans, and active duty US military personnel.
