Research
MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD
Our project employs advanced neurological, physiological, and psychological monitoring techniques to comprehensively assess the effects of therapy on patient outcomes. Using a multidisciplinary approach—including personalized therapeutic scripts, continuous physiological monitoring, and brain imaging—the research aims to build a robust framework for understanding the therapeutic benefits and mechanisms underlying MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD.
fMRI and EEG Imaging – Understanding Brain Activity Changes
We utilize functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and Electroencephalography (EEG) to explore patterns of brain activity before and after psychedelic therapy in PTSD patients. These scans are conducted both at rest and during exposure to trauma-related triggers. These techniques provide critical insights into the neurological foundations and potential neuroplastic changes resulting from MDMA-assisted therapy.
01
Control Group – Standard PTSD Therapy
To ensure the validity and reliability of the research findings, a control group receives standard PTSD therapy without MDMA. This group undergoes identical neurological and physiological assessments, allowing for the isolation and evaluation of MDMA’s specific therapeutic effects.
02
Autonomic Nervous System Monitoring During Trauma Recall
Therapeutic scripts tailored to each patient’s trauma history are used to elicit emotional and physiological responses. This method complements self-reported data with objective measures of the body’s reaction to trauma and provides insight into autonomic hyper-reactivity—one of the central mechanisms behind emotional dysregulation and anger outbursts in PTSD patients.
03
Wearable Sleep Monitoring Devices
Patients wear sensors that track physiological parameters such as heart rate variability, skin conductance, and body temperature during sleep. This data is essential for evaluating sleep disturbances—one of the most prominent and distressing symptoms of PTSD.
04
Experience Sampling for Daily Monitoring
A mobile application allows patients to report daily on key aspects such as nightmares, flashbacks, emotional regulation, and anger management difficulties. This real-time, high-resolution data collection provides a nuanced view of the treatment’s effects throughout the psychedelic therapy process.
05
Physiological Monitoring During Therapy Sessions
Physiological responses are monitored in every therapy session to assess sympathetic nervous system activation while engaging with traumatic content. This enables real-time intervention adjustment and provides additional metrics beyond self-reported outcomes.
06
Long-Term Symptom Severity Evaluation
The CAPS-5, a standard PTSD assessment tool, is used at multiple intervals to measure symptom severity and treatment efficacy over time. Evaluations are conducted at 3, 6, and 12 months post-treatment to track the long-term impact of the intervention.
07
The advanced monitoring techniques used in both the treatment and control groups enhance our understanding of how MDMA enables therapeutic breakthroughs in PTSD. Through systematic evaluation of neurological, physiological, and psychological responses, this research aims to illuminate how MDMA fosters long-term recovery from PTSD—paving the way for future therapeutic innovation.
Physiological Response Visualization
In the charts below, you will see the physiological reactivity of three patients, measured before and after treatment. The responses are shown in relation to three distinct stimuli:
-
Neutral Event Recording: e.g., imagining walking through a parking lot toward a car
-
Mild Stressful Event: e.g., imagining a job interview that ends in failure
-
Personal Traumatic Event: a combat-related memory described by the participant and narrated in first person present tense (e.g., “You’re walking in Lebanon. Hezbollah opens fire. Avi is hit first...”).
The third stimulus, while distressing, is necessary for evaluating whether the therapy reduced the patient’s physiological reactivity to trauma—an essential marker of treatment effectiveness.
This entire measurement and analysis process is led by Dr. Julia Golomb, one of Israel’s leading physiology researchers.
Partner Institutions
Psychedelic Research Center, Emek Medical Center – Dr. Ronen Sidi, Clinical Psychologist
.png){kind=logo}
University of Haifa, Laboratory for Stress and Psychopathology – Prof. Roy Admon
Reichman University, Sagol Center for Brain and Mind – Prof. Nava Levit-Binnun, Dr. Julia Golomb