In collaboration with Dr. Trisha Suppes’ Exploratory Therapeutics Laboratory, we are conducting a functional neuroimaging study embedded within the VA’s open-label, randomized clinical trial comparing MDMA-assisted Cognitive Processing Therapy (MDMA-aCPT) to VA standard-of-care CPT for Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This landmark trial, led by Dr. Suppes, is the first within the VA system to directly compare MDMA-enhanced psychotherapy with a standard-of-care treatment for PTSD, evaluating clinical outcomes, implementation feasibility, and health economics—laying the groundwork for potential integration of MDMA-aCPT into real-world care for Veterans.

 

Our neuroimaging study, called MDMAP, focuses on identifying brain circuit mechanisms that underlie and predict therapeutic response. This study builds on our recent JAMA Network Open findings from our mechanistic trial of MDMA, in which we focused on the negative affect circuit to stratify participants and found the circuit-derived biotypes predicted distinct neural, behavioral, and subjective experiences under MDMA. We are now testing whether this brain circuit biotypes could predict therapeutic effect from MDMA-aCPT compared to CPT alone. Functional MRI scans are collected before and after treatment at multiple timepoints to assess how changes in brain circuits correspond with symptom improvement.

 

This work advances a precision psychiatry approach by linking brain circuit function with personalized treatment response. It offers a unique opportunity to validate a candidate biomarker that may guide clinical decision-making for trauma-related disorders.

 

Faculty members involved in this study include Drs. Leanne Williams and Trisha Suppes.