Husband and wife team, Michael Mithoefer, MD, a clinical psychiatrist, and Annie Mithoefer, BSN, a registered nurse, are Clinical Investigators for MDMA and PTSD studies at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelics Studies (MAPS). They specialize in treating PTSD with experimental psychotherapy through clinical research and outpatient clinical practice. Between 2004 and 2018, Michael and Annie completed two of the six MAPS-sponsored Phase II clinical trials testing MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. Together, they have over 25 years of experience treating trauma patients.

Psychedelics like MDMA became popular for recreational use in the 60s, leading some psychiatrists and medical professionals to explore these drugs as treatments for PTSD and depression. Yet, the road to legality and acceptance was long and arduous. How did early pioneers of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy pave the way for a groundbreaking new treatment method?

Psychedelic therapy pioneers Michael and Annie Mithoefer knew they wanted to accelerate healing through altered states of consciousness, so they began treating patients using breathwork. After some trauma patients didn’t experience results, the husband and wife team conducted in-depth research into MDMA. Despite scrutiny, legal challenges, and reputational risks, Annie and Michael collaborated with top psychiatrists to bring MDMA-assisted psychotherapy to the mainstream. Their FDA approval process began after conducting rigorous studies involving control and experimental groups. These studies laid the foundation for future psychedelic-assisted treatment programs, benefiting patients with treatment-resistant mental health conditions.

Join Dr. Sandy Newes in this episode of Living Medicine as she interviews Michael and Annie Mithoefer about their pioneering research into MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. Together, they discuss the early days of psychedelic therapy and research, the outcomes of their clinical studies, and why they began their research.