VA Launches First Psychedelic Therapy Study in Over 50 Years to Address PTSD in Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs is funding a $1.5 million, five-year MDMA-assisted therapy study to explore new treatments for PTSD and alcohol use disorder.

The VA has committed $1.5 million to a five-year study on MDMA-assisted therapy for veterans with PTSD and alcohol use disorder, marking its first psychedelic research since the 1960s.
The study will be conducted at VA medical centers in Rhode Island and Connecticut, in collaboration with researchers from Brown and Yale universities.
Participants will receive pharmaceutical-grade MDMA or a low-dose placebo in a controlled clinical setting combined with psychotherapy to assess its therapeutic potential.
MDMA-assisted therapy has shown promise in increasing emotional openness, reducing fear, and aiding the processing of traumatic memories in prior studies.
VA officials caution veterans against self-medicating with psychedelics and emphasize the importance of consulting healthcare providers for treatment decisions.