PMID- 34739165
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20220427
LR  - 20220731
IS  - 1099-1077 (Electronic)
IS  - 0885-6222 (Print)
IS  - 0885-6222 (Linking)
VI  - 37
IP  - 3
DP  - 2022 May
TI  - Potential processes of change in MDMA-Assisted therapy for social anxiety 
      disorder: Enhanced memory reconsolidation, self-transcendence, and therapeutic 
      relationships.
PG  - e2824
LID - 10.1002/hup.2824 [doi]
LID - e2824
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Researchers have suggested that psychotherapy may be enhanced by the 
      addition of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), particularly in the 
      treatment of disorders wherein interpersonal dysfunction is central, such as 
      social anxiety disorder. We review literature pertaining to three potential 
      processes of change that may be instigated during sessions involving MDMA 
      administration in the treatment of social anxiety disorder. DESIGN: This is a 
      narrative review that integrates research on the etiology and maintenance of 
      social anxiety disorder and mechanisms of action of MDMA to examine how MDMA may 
      enhance psychotherapy outcomes. RESULTS: We first outline how MDMA may enhance 
      memory reconsolidation in social anxiety disorder. We then discuss how MDMA may 
      induce experiences of self-transcendence and self-transcendent emotions such as 
      compassion, love, and awe; and how these experiences may be therapeutic in the 
      context of social anxiety disorder. We subsequently discuss the possibility that 
      MDMA may enhance the strength and effectiveness of the therapeutic relationship 
      which is a robust predictor of outcomes across many disorders as well as a 
      potential key ingredient in treating disorders where shame and social 
      disconnection are central factors. CONCLUSION: We discuss how processes of change 
      may extend beyond the MDMA dosing sessions themselves.
CI  - (c) 2021 The Authors. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental published 
      by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
FAU - Luoma, Jason B
AU  - Luoma JB
AUID- ORCID: 0000-0002-3601-7037
AD  - Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, Research, & Training Center, Portland, Oregon, 
      USA.
FAU - Shahar, Ben
AU  - Shahar B
AD  - The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
FAU - Kati Lear, M
AU  - Kati Lear M
AD  - Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, Research, & Training Center, Portland, Oregon, 
      USA.
FAU - Pilecki, Brian
AU  - Pilecki B
AD  - Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, Research, & Training Center, Portland, Oregon, 
      USA.
FAU - Wagner, Anne
AU  - Wagner A
AD  - Remedy Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Review
DEP - 20211105
PL  - England
TA  - Hum Psychopharmacol
JT  - Human psychopharmacology
JID - 8702539
RN  - KE1SEN21RM (N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine)
SB  - IM
MH  - Emotions
MH  - Empathy
MH  - Humans
MH  - *N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine/therapeutic use
MH  - *Phobia, Social/drug therapy
MH  - Psychotherapy
PMC - PMC9285360
OTO - NOTNLM
OT  - MDMA
OT  - memory reconsolidation
OT  - processes of change
OT  - self-transcendence
OT  - social anxiety disorder
OT  - therapeutic relationship
COIS- No conflicts of interest have been declared.
EDAT- 2021/11/06 06:00
MHDA- 2022/04/28 06:00
PMCR- 2022/07/15
CRDT- 2021/11/05 12:19
PHST- 2020/12/21 00:00 [received]
PHST- 2021/10/04 00:00 [accepted]
PHST- 2021/11/06 06:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2022/04/28 06:00 [medline]
PHST- 2021/11/05 12:19 [entrez]
PHST- 2022/07/15 00:00 [pmc-release]
AID - HUP2824 [pii]
AID - 10.1002/hup.2824 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Hum Psychopharmacol. 2022 May;37(3):e2824. doi: 10.1002/hup.2824. Epub 2021 Nov 
      5.