Summary - Reimagining PTSD-AUD Treatment for Veterans: MDMA-Assisted Therapy from Pilot to Randomized Trial

The William James College Train Vets to Treat Vets Program and Department of Continuing Education are pleased to present Reimagining PTSD-AUD Treatment for Veterans: MDMA-Assisted Therapy from Pilot to Randomized Trial as part of our ongoing CE series to provide essential training in veteran-specific issues. The series is designed to equip mental health providers with the knowledge and competence needed to serve this population effectively.

This one-hour continuing education program will examine MDMA-assisted therapy as an emerging, investigational treatment for Veterans with co-occurring post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). The program will review the clinical challenges associated with PTSD-AUD comorbidity and the need for additional treatment approaches for this complex population.

Participants will receive an overview of the current psychedelic research landscape, the pharmacology and proposed therapeutic effects of MDMA, and the existing evidence regarding MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD and alcohol use.

The presentation will also describe the MDMA-assisted therapy treatment model, including preparation, medication-assisted sessions, integration, safety considerations, and the role of the therapeutic team.

Finally, the program will highlight emerging research examining MDMA-assisted therapy among Veterans with co-occurring PTSD and AUD, including pilot research and the development of a randomized controlled trial. Throughout the presentation, emphasis will be placed on maintaining a balanced, evidence-based perspective and recognizing the limitations, risks, and unanswered questions that remain as research in this area continues to evolve.

Dr. Erica Eaton is a clinical psychologist and researcher whose work focuses on the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol use disorder (AUD), and their frequent co-occurrence among U.S. Veterans. She is an Assistant Professor (Research) at the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies and the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and a clinical psychologist with the Trauma Recovery Service at the Providence VA Medical Center. Dr. Eaton’s research focuses on developing and evaluating innovative treatments for Veterans with co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorders. She is a Principal Investigator of a VA Merit-funded randomized controlled trial examining MDMA-assisted therapy for Veterans with co-occurring PTSD and AUD, the first psychedelic clinical trial funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in decades. Her work also includes an open-label pilot study of MDMA-assisted therapy for Veterans with PTSD and AUD. Dr. Eaton’s clinical and research interests include trauma recovery, substance use, psychedelic-assisted therapies, and the development of novel interventions for complex and difficult-to-treat populations. Through her clinical work and research, she is committed to advancing rigorous, patient-centered approaches to improving the lives of Veterans affected by trauma and addiction.

At the end of this program, attendees will be able to:

Differentiate the clinical rationale, proposed mechanisms, and current evidence for MDMA-assisted therapy from established treatments for PTSD and alcohol use disorder;
Identify key components of the MDMA-assisted therapy treatment model, including preparation, medication-assisted sessions, integration, participant selection, safety monitoring, and ethical considerations;

and

Integrate a balanced, evidence-based understanding of the potential benefits, limitations, risks, and current investigational status of MDMA-assisted therapy when considering emerging treatments for Veterans with co-occurring PTSD and alcohol use disorder.