Evaluating the atittudes of Australian psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health researchers towards 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of PTSD: A double-blind, randomised controlled trial

This double-blind, randomised controlled trial (n=200) aims to evaluate the attitudes of Australian psychologists, psychiatrists, and mental health researchers towards MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of PTSD.

Participants are directed to an online survey presenting a vignette of a hypothetical patient with PTSD seeking advice about participating in a clinical trial. The intervention involves reading the vignette describing either MDMA-assisted psychotherapy or a control treatment. Participants then complete questions assessing their level of concern about safety, predicted efficacy, the likelihood of objecting to participation, and the likelihood of recommending participation.

The study is conducted by the University of Sydney, Australia, and aims to understand potential biases inhibiting research or uptake of MDMA therapy for PTSD by mental health professionals.

The trial is recruiting participants in Australia, with the first enrolment on 11/02/2020. Data sharing will be available from July 2021 until July 2026 for approved analyses by the scientific community. For further information, individuals can contact Professor Nick Glozier or Dr. Dean Wright at the University of Sydney.

Topic PTSD Population Surveys
Compound MDMA
Country Australia
Visit trial
Status Recruiting
Results Published No
Start date 11 February 2020
End date 02 November 2020
Phase Not Applicable
Design Blinded
Type Interventional
Generation First
Participants 100
Sex All
Age 18- 98
Therapy Yes

Trial Details

We aim to evaluate the attitudes of mental health professionals towards MDMA-therapy trials by a comparison of attitudes to a neutrally-labelled pharmacotherapy, using a double-blind, randomised controlled vignette study design. We hypothesise that mental health professionals will have the following differences in attitudes towards MDMA-therapy, when compared a neutrally-labelled pharmacotherapy: 1) higher concerns for safety; 2) Lower predicted efficacy; 3) stronger objections to participation and/or lower levels of recommending participation. By assessing professional attitudes towards MDMA-therapy for PTSD using an experimental study, we can understand if there are any biases that may be inhibiting conducting research in this area, or inhibiting the uptake of this potential new treatment by clinicians.

NCT Number

Sponsors & Collaborators

University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is Australias oldest university. At the psychopharmacology laboratory, researchers have conducted some research with psychedelics.

Data attribution

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