Rationale: Converging evidence suggests that cannabis use can induce psychosis and is a distinct risk factor for schizophrenia. Taken together with the effects of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on neural systems, dopamine and endocannabinoids it is likely that cannabis use may also produce sub- clinical psychosis-linked changes in a much larger number of regular recreational users; observable in...
In my study, I explore a specific kind of Electronic Dance Music (EDM) event - the psytrance party to highlight the importance of social connectivity and the generation of a modern form of communitas (Turner, 1969, 1982). Since the early 90s psytrance, and a related earlier style, Goa trance, have been understood as hedonist music cultures where participants seek to get into a trance-like state...
This research thesis aimed to explore the apparent dichotomy of ecstasy (MDMA) users who report cognitive and psychopathological problems which they attribute to their use of this drug ("problematic" users), and those who report no adverse ecstasy-related effects ("nonproblematic" users). In the first study, possible psychological sequalae linked to past ecstasy use were assessed in problematic...