Drug Effects on Interpersonal Interaction

This double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial (n=30) investigated the effects of MDMA (100mg) compared to placebo on feelings of closeness and mood in semi-structured dyadic conversations.

Topic Healthy Subjects
Compound MDMA
Country United States of America
Visit trial
Status Completed
Results Published Yes
Start date 01 August 2021
End date 01 May 2022
Chance of happening 100%
Phase Phase I
Design Blinded
Type Interventional
Generation First
Participants 30
Sex All
Age 18- 35
Therapy No

Trial Details

The study will use a within-subject design with three sessions: i) MDMA and conversation with Person A, ii) placebo and conversation with Person B, iii) test session (online) assessing preference for Persons A and B. The MDMA dose will be 100 mg, administered under double blind conditions. The conversation will consist of a 45 min dialog between the participant and the partner, a person trained to engage in conversation for this purpose. The dyad will be provided with topics to discuss, at their own pace. The order of administration of drug and placebo will be counterbalanced, and the partners will be same-sex and varied across sessions. The primary outcome measures will be feelings of closeness and connection at the end of the two drug sessions, at the online test session and follow-up. After study completion, participants will be fully informed about the study.

NCT Number NCT05123716

Sponsors & Collaborators

University of Chicago
Research with psychedelics is taking place at the Human Behavioral Pharmacology Lab at the University of Chicago.

Papers

Drug-induced social connection: both MDMA and methamphetamine increase feelings of connectedness during controlled dyadic conversations
This randomized, controlled trial (n=18 MDMA, n=19 methamphetamine) investigates the effects of MDMA (100 mg) and methamphetamine (MA; 20 mg) on feelings of connectedness during a semi-structured casual conversation with an unfamiliar partner. The study finds that MDMA and MA increased feelings of connection and elevated oxytocin levels compared to placebo. However, a correlation between increased oxytocin levels and feelings of closeness was observed only in the MDMA group, highlighting MDMA's unique empathogenic effects.

Data attribution

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