MDMA-Assisted Therapy and Repressed Memories

In the bestselling memoir The Tell, author Amy Griffin recounts how MDMA-assisted therapy led her to uncover buried memories of childhood abuse—memories she hadn’t known existed. But the story has raised eyebrows across the psychiatric world: Can trauma really be “remembered” for the first time? And does MDMA-assisted therapy have the power to unlock those hidden parts of the mind?

While Griffin’s experience is deeply personal and emotionally compelling, it also brings attention to a heated debate in mental health: the science—and the myth—behind repressed memories.

What is MDMA-Assisted Therapy?

MDMA-assisted therapy involves guided sessions with a trained therapist while under the influence of MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy). Unlike recreational use, this type of therapy takes place in a controlled environment and is usually part of a longer treatment program, often for PTSD.

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) has led the charge in researching MDMA as a treatment option for trauma. Studies have shown that when combined with therapy, MDMA can reduce fear responses, increase feelings of empathy, and help patients revisit traumatic events with more emotional distance.

But there’s a catch: although close to FDA approval, MDMA-assisted therapy is still considered experimental and remains illegal outside clinical trials.

Can MDMA Unlock Repressed Memories?

This is where things get complicated.

In The Tell, Griffin describes vivid flashbacks during her first MDMA session, which she interpreted as memories of childhood abuse. Her emotional clarity around these images gave her a sense of peace and self-understanding. But many memory researchers caution against taking these recollections at face value.

Repressed Memories: A Scientific Gray Zone

The idea of repressed memories—memories so traumatic they’re hidden away by the brain until later in life—originated with Sigmund Freud. But even Freud eventually distanced himself from the theory after finding little evidence to support it.

Modern research supports a different narrative: trauma is often remembered more vividly, not less. According to cognitive psychologist Lawrence Patihis, people tend to retain detailed memories of traumatic events, and the sudden appearance of a memory years later is more likely a result of suggestion, imagination, or even therapy-related influence rather than an actual repressed experience.

“The good science is slow,” Patihis says. “It’s careful. And it shows that trauma is remembered, not forgotten.”

How MDMA Might Influence Memory Recall

MDMA creates a state of openness, emotional vulnerability, and lowered fear. In this context, it’s possible to experience mental images or feelings that feel like memories, even if they aren’t rooted in real events. These mental experiences can offer therapeutic breakthroughs, but they can also blur the line between memory and imagination.

This is especially tricky when patients begin therapy with the feeling that “something happened,” even if they don’t know what it was. When suggestions—intentional or not—are introduced in this state, it’s possible to form false memories.

Why It Still Matters to Patients and Therapists

Despite scientific skepticism, many clinicians continue to support patients who experience what they believe are repressed memories. Why? Because the emotional impact is real. For some, like Griffin, recalling these “memories” leads to a sense of closure, forgiveness, or personal empowerment.

As Patihis puts it, “Clinicians have a responsibility to inform clients that memory distortions are possible in therapy… and then continue to do good therapy.”

This raises a difficult question: Should a therapist validate an experience that may not be factually accurate but is emotionally healing?

The answer isn’t clear—and maybe it never will be. But the growing popularity of MDMA-assisted therapy means these ethical and scientific challenges aren’t going away.

The Path Forward for MDMA Therapy

While the debate over repressed memories continues, MDMA-assisted therapy has shown real promise in helping people with PTSD, anxiety, and deep-seated trauma. Researchers, clinicians, and patients will need to proceed with both optimism and caution.

For now, anyone considering psychedelic therapy should be informed of the risks, the science, and the uncertainties. Stories like Griffin’s are powerful, but they should not be taken as proof.

References:

1. Patihis, L., Ho, L. Y., Tingen, I. W., Lilienfeld, S. O., & Loftus, E. F. (2014). Are the “memory wars” over? A scientist-practitioner gap in beliefs about repressed memory. Psychological Science, 25(2), 519–530. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797613510718

2. Mitchell, J. M., Bogenschutz, M., Lilienstein, A., et al. (2023). MDMA-assisted therapy for moderate to severe PTSD: A randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. Nature Medicine, 29, 865–873. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02257-0