Menu
Peptide Database
Results
No peptides found
Featured

Use search to browse all 100+ peptides

Oxytocin

Pitocin, Syntocinon

Quick Stats
Studies 93
Trials 100
Completed EARLY PHASE1 INTERVENTIONAL NCT03527316

Effect of Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (Serotonin Release) on Fear Extinction

View on ClinicalTrials.gov Updated Dec 15, 2025

Brief Summary

Serotonin and oxytocin play a role in fear conditioning and fear extinction learning, psychological processes that are critically involved in psychiatric disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Specifically, administration of oxytocin has been shown to facilitate fear extinction in humans. Similarly, substances that release serotonin and oxytocin such as MDMA have been shown to enhance the extinction of fear memory in animals. However, there are no data on the effects of MDMA on fear extinction in humans. Therefore, the primary aim of this study is to investigate the role of acute serotonin release in the effects of fear extinction. MDMA will be used as pharmacological tool to induce serotonin release in this study.

Interventions

Name: MDMA
Type: DRUG
Description: 125 mg MDMA per os, single dose
Name: Placebo
Type: DRUG
Description: Capsules containing mannitol looking identical to the other drugs.

Primary Outcomes

Measure: Fear extinction measured by Skin conductance response
TimeFrame: 12 months
Description: a) Skin conductance response to conditioned stimuli
Measure: Fear extinction measured by Fear-potentiated startle
TimeFrame: 12 months
Description: b) Fear-potentiated startle to conditioned stimuli

Trial Information

NCT ID

NCT03527316

Status

Completed

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Phases

EARLY PHASE1

Sponsor

University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland

Last Updated

December 15, 2025