Israeli study of psychedelic use for treating PTSD could expand trauma care

OG article by Maayan Hoffman/The Media Line

December 30, 2025

Approximately 3 million adults in Israel have experienced anxiety, depression, or PTSD symptoms since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led massacre and ensuing war, according to State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman. Mental health services are overwhelmed, prompting a new Israeli study to test MDMA-assisted group psychotherapy as a scalable treatment for collective trauma. The trial, led by MAPS Israel in partnership with Sheba Medical Center, is the first worldwide to examine MDMA in a group setting with eight participants per session and two therapists, aiming to treat four times more people than individual protocols. Initiated by venture capitalist Eyal Gura and Dr. Keren Tzarfaty, the study targets groups sharing similar experiences, such as IDF veterans, Gaza border residents, or Nova music festival survivors. It will begin with 20 participants by year-end, expanding to 168, marking Israel’s largest psychedelic clinical trial. MDMA, a synthetic psychedelic, has shown benefits in U.S. trials for PTSD when combined with therapy, though it remains unapproved by the FDA, which in 2024 called for more research after an advisory committee vote against approval. Australia approved MDMA for treatment-resistant PTSD in 2023. MAPS Israel, a nonprofit, seeks to prove the approach’s efficacy to address the treatment gap, potentially enabling local production of MDMA and broader access. Experts like psychiatrist Oded Arbel highlight promise in psychedelics like ketamine and psilocybin for trauma, emphasizing controlled use. The study addresses a national mental health crisis described as a security threat, with goals to unify treatments and export the model globally for collective trauma scenarios.