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Cited by 116Psychedelics and Drug StudiesHistorical Psychiatry and Medical PracticesPsychotherapy Techniques and Applications

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 29 of the 29 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

The early use of MDMA (‘Ecstasy') in Psychotherapy (1977–1985)

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Passie, Torsten·2018·Drug Science Policy and Law
DOI 10.1177/2050324518767442
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Abstract

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), also known as ecstasy, was first synthesized in 1912 but first reached widespread popularity as a legal alternative after the much sought-after recreational drug 3,4-methylenedioxy-amphetamine (MDA) was made illegal in 1970. Because of its benign, feeling-enhancing, and nonhallucinatory properties, MDMA was used by a few dozen psychotherapists in the United States between 1977 and 1985, when it was still legal. This article looks into the contexts and practices of its psychotherapeutic use during these years. Some of the guidelines, recommendations, and precautions developed then are similar to those that apply to psychedelic drugs, but others are specific for MDMA. It is evident from this review that the therapists pioneering the use of MDMA were able to develop techniques (and indications/counterindications) for individual and group therapy that laid the groundwork for the use of MDMA in later scientific studies. In retrospect, it appears that the perceived beneficial effects of MDMA supported a revival of psycholytic/psychedelic therapy on an international scale.

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Metadata

Authors
Passie, T.
Affiliations
Goethe University Frankfurt (DE)
Corresponding author
Passie, Torsten
ORCID
Passie, Torsten
Venue
Drug Science Policy and Law
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2018-01
Volume
4
ISSN
2050-3245 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1177/2050324518767442
OpenAlex
W2797335301
Cited by
116
References
29
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2
FWCI
5.29
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
Drug Science Policy and Law (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Historical Psychiatry and Medical Practices
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
Keywords
MDMA, ecstasy, psychotherapy, psychedelic therapy, history of psychotherapy, group therapy, individual psychotherapy, 1970s, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine

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