MDMA-Assisted Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Mixed-Methods Case Study of a Participant of Color From an Open-Label Trial.

This article focuses on a mixed-methods case study examining the effects and mechanisms of MDMA (±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine)-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) for treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a first-generation South Asian American participant. The study documents significant reductions in PTSD and depressive symptoms, alongside improvements in emotional regulation, cognitive processing, and suicidality, highlighting culturally specific experiences such as integration of self-concepts informed by Hindu and pop culture references. The participant’s recovery involved trauma reprocessing, cognitive shifts, and enhanced emotional awareness, with additional benefits including reduced substance use and increased motivation for social justice advocacy, though some transient negative effects related to sleep deprivation and medication use were noted. The findings underscore the importance of culturally attuned therapeutic approaches in MDMA-AT and call for further research on ethnoracial minority experiences to address existing gaps in diversity and inclusivity in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.