A group of 400 Israeli survivors of the October 7 Hamas attack, including civilians, released hostages, and soldiers, could be offered MDMA-assisted psychotherapy in a potentially trailblazing study to commence later this year.

The patients would undergo two sessions with the drug each in small groups, in what would be the largest MDMA-assisted therapy study anywhere to date — a milestone in the passage of psychedelic medicine into mainstream acceptance.

The study is being organized by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies Israel, or MAPS Israel, an independent nonprofit that develops psychedelic research programs, and an affiliate of the U.S.-based MAPS that has worked to bring MDMA therapy to the brink of approval stateside. The MAPS Israel study would break new ground in group MDMA therapy.

“Our goal is to create a therapy model that can serve universally, with the intention and prayer to help people,” said Dr. Keren Tzarfaty, CEO and co-founder of MAPS Israel, which is already running trials evaluating MDMA-assisted therapy for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and eating disorders. “We hope it will demonstrate high levels of safety and effectiveness and enable us to offer the program in other places over the region and the world, not only to treat PTSD, but to help people open their hearts and expand their minds.”

The study comes as Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip continues, with nearly 30,000 Palestinians killed and allegations in international court that Israel is engaged in a genocide. The deaths, as well as imminent famine, a collapsed medical system, and massive levels of destruction, are sure to leave extraordinary psychological trauma of their own, with the dire conditions making evaluations, let alone treatments, impossible.

MAPS Israel’s planned therapeutic program would be one of the most high-profile studies in what is a burgeoning, global industry of psychedelic therapy research. MDMA is a stimulant, also known as ecstasy or molly, that sparks empathic feelings of love and openness, yielding potentially revolutionary treatment for some mental health issues.

Even the notoriously reticent U.S. government is opening to the field. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to announce approval this year for using MDMA as a treatment combined with therapy for........

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