Cited by 15Psychedelics and Drug StudiesPersonality Disorders and PsychopathologyPsychotherapy Techniques and Applications

MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder

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Traynor, Jenna M., Roberts, Daniel E., Ross, Stephen, Zeifman, Richard, Choi-Kain, Lois·2022·Focus

Abstract

Borderline personality disorder is a complex psychiatric disorder with limited treatment options that are associated with large heterogeneity in treatment response and high rates of dropout. New or complementary treatments for borderline personality disorder are needed that may be able to bolster treatment outcomes. In this review, the authors comment on the plausibility for research on 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) used in conjunction with psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder (i.e., MDMA-assisted psychotherapy [MDMA-AP]). On the basis of the promise of MDMA-AP in treating disorders overlapping with borderline personality disorder (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder), the authors speculate on initial treatment targets and hypothesized mechanisms of change that are grounded in prior literature and theory. Initial considerations for designing MDMA-AP clinical trials to investigate the safety, feasibility, and preliminary effects of MDMA-AP for borderline personality disorder are also presented.

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Crossref · 10.1176/appi.focus.20220056

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121 of 121 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Preliminary findings support the potential use of psychedelics in personality disorder treatment.

    “While the exact mechanisms of action remain unclear, and despite study limitations including small sample sizes and challenges in maintaining blindness in placebo-controlled trials (36), these preliminary findings support the potential use of psychedelics in personality disorder treatment (18, 25, 37, 38).”

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Authors
Traynor, J. M., Roberts, D. E., Ross, S., Zeifman, R., & Choi-Kain, L.
Affiliations
Harvard University (US)
Venue
Focus
Published
2022-10
Volume
20
Issue
4
Pages
358-367
ISSN
  • 1541-4094 (ISSN-L)
  • 1541-4108
OpenAlex
W4307380201
Cited by
15
References
121
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 7
FWCI
0.54
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • FOCUS The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
Keywords
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, borderline personality disorder, MDMA, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, treatment-resistant depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, mechanisms of change, treatment goals, clinical trial design, treatment discontinuation, treatment response heterogeneity

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