Sustaining Remission From PTSD Using Tuned Vibroacoustic Stimulation (TVS) Following MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy

Sustaining Remission From PTSD Using Tuned Vibroacoustic Stimulation (TVS) Following MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy

Sustaining Remission From Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Using Tuned Vibroacoustic Stimulation (TVS) Following MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy

The purpose of this research is to examine a wearable device called Apollo that emits gentle vibrations found to benefit mood, energy, and focus. We want to understand how it affects outcomes related to MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD including depression, anxiety and emotion regulation. This study will test whether regular use of the Apollo wearable improves rates of sustained symptom remission in PTSD following MDMA-assisted psychotherapy over the course of two years

The study examines the effect of the Apollo wearable on its users after undergoing MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. There will be no study specific modification to the MDMA-assisted psychotherapy that participants receive. All study participants will have previously consented to MAPS MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD clinical trial before enrolling in this protocol. Once they have been identified as people who have been consented to the MAPS trial regardless of this research, they will be approached about the study, and screened/consented/enrolled accordingly. Participants will receive the Apollo wearable device via mail upon consenting to participate in this study. They will be provided an instruction manual with guidelines on how to best use the device and will be asked to continue to use the Apollo device in their everyday life following MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. Participants in the study will be asked to complete monthly online questionnaires for the duration of the two year study. Please note: this study is not affiliated with the MAPS organization who is running the MDMA-assisted psychotherapy research study.

This is a single group study. All participants will receive identical instructions regarding the device and will complete the same survey measures.

Participants who have completed the MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy and consented to be part of this study will use an Apollo Device TVS (10-200 Hz) attached to the subject's wrist or ankle via a commercially available wearable vibration technology can deliver TVS (Transcutaneous Vibratory Stimulation). The intensity will be targeted for the sensory threshold (the level at which the vibration is just noticeable) as this is where the TVS seems to be most effective from prior studies. Similar vibratory stimuli have been demonstrated to be safe in the literature.10-14 The intensity of the vibration will be adjusted to the subjects' comfort and can be controlled by the subject at any time.

Participants will be provided with the Apollo wearable device and asked to install the study mobile application on their mobile phone. Participants will use the Apollo for at least 30 minutes after waking up in the morning and at least 30 minutes before bed on the corresponding settings for those times of day. They will be given the Apollo Device TVS (10-200 Hz) to borrow which they will be instructed to wear everyday. They will be asked to continue to wear the device until all study data is collected.

World Health Organization Health and Work Performance Questionnaire (HPQ Short form) will be used to measure work performance.

Chronic Pain Grade Scale (CPGS) will be used to provide a measure of symptoms of pain. The CPGS is a multidimensional measure that assesses 2 dimensions of overall chronic pain severity: pain intensity and pain-related disability. The 3 subscale scores (characteristic pain intensity, disability score, and the disability points score) are used to classify subjects into 1 of the 5 pain severity grades: grade 0 for no pain, grade I for low disability-low intensity, grade II for low disability-high intensity, grade III for high disability-moderately limiting, and grade IV for high disability-severely limiting.

Inclusion Criteria: Age 18 or over Completion of the MAPS MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD clinical trial (treatment cohort) completion of the MAPS MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD clinical trial (placebo cohort) enrolled in the MAPS MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD clinical trial, but dropped out Exclusion Criteria: Unable to give adequate informed consent Have any current problem which, in the opinion of the investigator might interfere with participation Are unable to complete questionnaires written in English