Small trial tests MDMA-assisted therapy for social anxiety
Saturday, 7 November 2026 · Mental health & wellbeing · Full report · Evidence: Moderate
PubMed, 2026-11-06 | read: abstract only (full text is not open access)
What was found
In a small trial, adults with social anxiety disorder who received therapy combined with MDMA reported much lower social anxiety than those placed on a waiting list 1. On the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, a common measure of how severe social fears and avoidance are, scores fell by an average of 43.3 points more in the MDMA group (standard deviation 14.7; p < .0001) 1. The difference was very large by standard measures (Hedges' g = 2.8) 1. Participants also showed gains in day-to-day functioning 1. Side effects were mild to moderate and temporary, and no serious adverse events were reported 1.
Who it applies to
The study involved adults diagnosed with social anxiety disorder 1. Their average age was 38. Of the participants, 45% were women, 40% were men, and 15% were transgender. Most (85%) were White 1.
How strong the evidence is
Early. This was a randomized trial in which 20 people were assigned either to MDMA-assisted therapy or to a waiting list 1. It was open-label, meaning everyone knew which group they were in. There was no placebo or other comparison treatment, so expectations may have shaped the results 1. The sample was small and mostly White, which limits how widely the findings apply, and the authors describe the work as preliminary 1. This summary is based on the abstract only, because the full paper is not openly available.
What it means in practice
The researchers conclude that MDMA-assisted therapy appeared feasible and safe in this study and may reduce social anxiety symptoms and improve daily functioning 1. They stress that more research is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn 1. Given the small size and open design, these results are a first step rather than settled evidence.