Therapeutic effect of increased openness: Investigating mechanism of action in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether MDMA-assisted psychotherapy leads to lasting changes in personality traits (Openness and Neuroticism) and if these changes mediate improvements in PTSD symptoms.
Results Summary
The study found that MDMA-assisted psychotherapy increased Openness, which moderated PTSD symptom reduction, and also observed decreased Neuroticism in long-term follow-up. These changes suggest MDMA therapy may fundamentally alter personality structure beyond symptom relief.
Population
Individuals with chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy | decrease | Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms | - | - | enduring improvements | #1 |
hallucinogens | increase | personality feature of "openness" | - | - | lasting changes | #2 |
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy | neutral | relationship between reduced PTSD symptoms and MDMA treatment | chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD | - | changes in Openness played a moderating role | #3 |
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy | increase | Openness | chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD | - | increased | #4 |
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy | decrease | Neuroticism | chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD | - | decreased | #5 |
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy | neutral | personality structure | - | - | extends beyond specific PTSD symptomatology and fundamentally alters | #6 |
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy | neutral | long-term persisting personality change | - | - | resulting in | #7 |
A growing body of research suggests that traumatic events lead to persisting personality change characterized by increased neuroticism. Relevantly, enduring improvements in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms have been found in response to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy. There is evidence that lasting changes in the personality feature of "openness" occur in response to hallucinogens, and that this may potentially act as a therapeutic mechanism of change. The present study investigated whether heightened Openness and decreased Neuroticism served as a mechanism of change within a randomized trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD. The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) Global Scores and NEO PI-R Personality Inventory (NEO) Openness and Neuroticism Scales served as outcome measures. Results indicated that changes in Openness but not Neuroticism played a moderating role in the relationship between reduced PTSD symptoms and MDMA treatment. Following MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, increased Openness and decreased Neuroticism when comparing baseline personality traits with long-term follow-up traits also were found. These preliminary findings suggest that the effect of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy extends beyond specific PTSD symptomatology and fundamentally alters personality structure, resulting in long-term persisting personality change. Results are discussed in terms of possible mechanisms of psychotherapeutic change.