About one in five French medical students (21.5%) had tried MDMA, with use more common among males, those who also used tobacco, cannabis, or other illicit drugs, and those who drank alcohol frequently. Most users took the drug in pill form, primarily at parties or raves. The findings suggest that MDMA experimentation is relatively common in this population and is linked to broader patterns of substance use.
A new multidimensional scale, the Nightmare Severity Index (NSI), was tested in 102 patients, mostly women (64%) and outpatients (76%) with mood disorders (depression 31%, bipolar disorder 41%) and frequent PTSD comorbidity (44%). The NSI assesses nightmare frequency, emotional impact, diurnal impact, and nocturnal impact. The questionnaire showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha >0.7) and was well suited for factor analysis. Higher NSI scores corresponded to individuals meeting DSM-5/ICSD-3 criteria for nightmare disorder. The NSI appears to be a promising tool for clinical assessment of nightmare severity.