Researchers to test psychedelic drug plus therapy to help military members with PTSD
UT Health San Antonio Newsroom
Feb 27, 2025
SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 27, 2025 – Researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and their collaborators at Emory University have received a $4.9 million grant aimed at significantly improving treatment and recovery rates for individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
The project was recently selected for funding by the U.S. Department of Defense through a call for studies to evaluate psychedelics as a treatment for PTSD in hopes of pushing the field forward. In this effort, the innovative clinical trial will use 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine hydrochloride, or MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, in combination with a leading psychotherapy for PTSD called Prolonged Exposure.
Prolonged Exposure therapy for PTSD works by helping individuals process traumatic memories and feelings while recalling them in a safe environment. The goal of the new study is to capitalize on beneficial MDMA properties in a synergistic way to enhance Prolonged Exposure’s efficacy, hopefully leading to greater symptom reductions and more patients being treated into remission.
The trial’s lead investigator is Alan Peterson, PhD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at UT Health San Antonio and director of the STRONG STAR Consortium. STRONG STAR is a national research network focused on finding the best preventions and treatments for psychological health issues affecting military members, veterans, and first responders.
“Cognitive-behavioral psychotherapies have the strongest scientific support for the treatment of PTSD, but for military service members and veterans, recovery rates with these treatments seem to have maximized at about 50%,” Peterson said. “Existing medications have not shown good promise when used alone, so we’re looking at novel ways to enhance treatment outcomes so that more of our psychologically wounded warfighters have the chance of full recovery from PTSD.”