Symptoms of anxiety and depression in childhood and use of MDMA: prospective, population based study
Anja C. Huizink, Robert F Ferdinand, Jan Van der Ende, Frank C Verhulst
BMJ February 24, 2006 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.38743.539398.3a (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Prospective longitudinal population-based study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,580 |
| Population | Children and adolescents from the Dutch province of Zuid-Holland |
| Duration | 14-year follow-up |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression MDMA |
| Citations | 77 |
| Key findings | Childhood symptoms of anxiety and depression significantly increase the risk of later MDMA use (hazard ratio 2.22). |
Abstract
Objective: To investigate whether using ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA) is preceded by symptoms of behavioural and emotional problems in childhood and early adolescence.
Design: Prospective, longitudinal, population based study
Setting: The Dutch province of Zuid-Holland.
Participants: A sample of 1580 individuals, followed up across a 14 year period, from childhood into adulthood. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The first assessment took place in 1983 before MDMA appeared as a recreational drug in the Netherlands and included the child behaviour checklist to obtain standardised parents' reports of their children's behavioural and emotional problems. Use of the drug was assessed with the composite international diagnostic interview 14 years later.
Results: Eight syndrome scales of childhood behaviour were examined. Scores in the deviant range for the scales designated as anxious or depressed in childhood were significantly related to use of MDMA in adolescents and adults, resulting in an increased risk (hazard ratio 2.22, 95% confidence interval 1.20 to 4.11, P = 0.01).
Conclusions: Individuals with childhood symptoms of anxiety and depression may have an increased tendency to use MDMA in adolescence or young adulthood. Its effects are supposed to include enhanced feelings of bonding with other people, euphoria, or relaxation. Especially individuals with symptoms of anxiety or depression may be susceptible to these positive effects.
In the evidence
This study is part of the evidence base for a synthesis in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.
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Childhood symptoms of anxiety or depression significantly increased the risk of later MDMA use (hazard ratio 2.22), suggesting reverse-direction association rather than MDMA reducing depression.
Synthesized
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on MDMA for depression, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Past-year hallucinogen use in relation to psychological distress, depression, and suicidality among US adults. US noninstitutionalized adults from the 2015-2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health | 2022 | Observational cohort | n = 241,675 |
| Ecstasy (MDMA) and its Relationship with Self- Report Depression, Anxiety and Schizotypy Participants divided into three groups: no ecstasy use, light ecstasy users (fewer than... | 2010 | Observational cohort | |
| The relationship between 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) use in young adulthood and anxiety or depressive disorders in the mid-30s: Findings from the Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study. Year 9 students (aged 14-15) from 44 Victorian schools in Australia, followed to age 35 | 2025 | Longitudinal population-based cohort study | n = 1,943 |
| Recreational ecstasy use and depression. Heavy ecstasy users and ecstasy-naive college students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Relationship between ecstasy use and depression: a study controlling for poly-drug use. Current MDMA users, ex-MDMA users, poly-drug controls who never used MDMA, and... | 2004 | Observational cohort | n = 110 |