Editing MDMA (section)

==Research==
{{See also|List of investigational anxiolytics|Psychedelic therapy}}

A 2014 review of the safety and efficacy of MDMA as a treatment for various disorders, particularly [[post-traumatic stress disorder]] (PTSD), indicated that MDMA has therapeutic efficacy in some patients.<ref name="Pharm2014" /> Four clinical trials provide moderate evidence in support of this treatment.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Breeksema JJ, Niemeijer AR, Krediet E, Vermetten E, Schoevers RA |date=September 2020 |title=Psychedelic Treatments for Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Patient Experiences in Qualitative Studies |journal=CNS Drugs |type=Systematic review |volume=34 |issue=9 |pages=925–946 |doi=10.1007/s40263-020-00748-y |pmc=7447679 |pmid=32803732}}</ref> Some authors have concluded that because of MDMA's potential to cause lasting harm in humans (e.g., [[Serotonin syndrome|serotonergic neurotoxicity]] and persistent memory impairment), "considerably more research must be performed" on its efficacy in PTSD treatment to determine if the potential treatment benefits outweigh its potential to harm a patient.<ref name="Current2013" /><ref name="Pharm2014" /> Other authors have argued that the neurotoxic effects of MDMA are dose-dependent,<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Battaglia G, Yeh SY, De Souza EB | title = MDMA-induced neurotoxicity: parameters of degeneration and recovery of brain serotonin neurons | journal = Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior | volume = 29 | issue = 2 | pages = 269–274 | date = February 1988 | pmid = 2452449 | doi = 10.1016/0091-3057(88)90155-4 }}</ref> with lower doses exhibiting lower neurotoxicity or even neuroprotection,<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Bhide NS, Lipton JW, Cunningham JI, Yamamoto BK, Gudelsky GA | title = Repeated exposure to MDMA provides neuroprotection against subsequent MDMA-induced serotonin depletion in brain | journal = Brain Research | volume = 1286 | pages = 32–41 | date = August 2009 | pmid = 19555677 | doi = 10.1016/j.brainres.2009.06.042 | pmc = 2754382 }}</ref> and that MDMA assisted psychotherapy is considerably safer than current treatments.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Feduccia AA, Jerome L, Yazar-Klosinski B, Emerson A, Mithoefer MC, Doblin R | title = Breakthrough for Trauma Treatment: Safety and Efficacy of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy Compared to Paroxetine and Sertraline | language = English | journal = Frontiers in Psychiatry | volume = 10 | pages = 650 | date = 2019-09-12 | pmid = 31572236 | pmc = 6751381 | doi = 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00650 | doi-access = free }}</ref>{{clear}}

Animal models suggest that postnatal exposure may ameliorate social impairments in autism.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Chaliha D, Mamo JC, Albrecht M, Lam V, Takechi R, Vaccarezza M | title = A Systematic Review of the MDMA Model to Address Social Impairment in Autism | journal = Current Neuropharmacology | volume = 19 | issue = 7 | pages = 1101–1154 | date = 2021-07-01 | pmid = 33388021 | doi = 10.2174/1570159X19666210101130258 | pmc = 8686313 }}</ref>

Recent evidence suggests the safe and potentially effective use of MDMA to treat the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Arnovitz MD, Spitzberg AJ, Davani AJ, Vadhan NP, Holland J, Kane JM, Michaels TI | title = MDMA for the Treatment of Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia | journal = Journal of Clinical Medicine | volume = 11 | issue = 12 | pages = 3255 | date = June 2022 | pmid = 35743326 | pmc = 9225098 | doi = 10.3390/jcm11123255 | doi-access = free }}</ref> Unlike other treatments for mental illness, MDMA would be intended to be used infrequently and alongside psychotherapy in treatment.