Pathways for MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy Across Europe
The European Platform for Integration of MDMA in Mental Health Care (EPIC)
EPIC is an independent convening initiative that brings together clinical, scientific, and policy expertise to support informed dialogue on MDMA-assisted psychotherapy and its implications for posttraumatic stress disorder, mental health care, and regulation within European health systems. We are active at the EU level in Brussels, engage directly with Member States advancing relevant best practices such as the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, and cooperate with partners in Ukraine through regular travel and on the ground engagement, including in frontline regions carrying the heaviest PTSD burden.
Executive Team
-

Viktor Chvátal
Director, EU Policy & Regulatory Affairs
-

Eric Vermetten, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, Scientific & Research Affairs
-

Ingmar Gorman, Ph.D.
Director, Clinical Implementation & Training
Advisors
-

Tomas Palenicek, M.D., Ph.D.
-

Berra Yazar-Klosinski, Ph.D.
-

Eduardo Schenberg, MSc., Ph.D.
-

Wim Best, Pharm.D.
EPIC’s Core Goals
Clarify Regulatory Pathways
Contribute to shared understanding of legal and regulatory considerations relevant to the potential medical integration of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, particularly in relation to severe and treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder, across European health systems.
Evidence-Informed Consideration
Engage with emerging scientific evidence and clinical insight, particularly from research in post-traumatic stress disorder, to inform responsible discussion of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy within the broader context of mental health care.
Align European Perspectives
Support coordination and dialogue across European countries to reduce fragmentation in regulatory approaches and clinical standards relevant to the care of individuals living with complex and trauma-related mental health conditions.
Embed Ethical Reflection
Promote consideration of ethical principles relevant to patient safety, informed consent, and governance, with particular attention to the vulnerabilities and needs of individuals receiving care for severe mental health conditions.
Strengthen Scientific and Public Trust
Engage with emerging scientific evidence and clinical insight, particularly from research in post-traumatic stress disorder, to inform responsible discussion of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy within the broader context of mental health care.
Foster Cross-Sector Exchange
Convene clinicians, researchers, and policy experts to support ongoing exchange at the intersection of science, mental health care delivery, and regulation, with a shared focus on conditions such as PTSD where clinical need, evidence, and policy considerations intersect.