Neuropsychiatric Alterations in MDMA Users: Preliminary Findings
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences August 1, 2005 DOI: 10.1196/annals.1344.003 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 48 |
| Population | MDMA abusers, marijuana/MDMA abusers, marijuana abusers, and control subjects |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Electroencephalography Hallucinogen Cerebral blood flow Audiology Anesthesia |
| Citations | 17 |
| Key findings | MDMA abusers showed significantly higher absolute delta power in EEG and increased diastolic blood flow velocity, suggesting possible drug-induced neuropathological changes. |
Abstract
The use of marijuana is rampant among 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) users. The co-occurrence of abuse of these two drugs has made it difficult to assess the specific residual effects of MDMA alone. As a first step toward identifying the effects of long-term MDMA use, we studied 8 MDMA abusers, 8 marijuana/MDMA abusers, 15 marijuana abusers (matched in marijuana use without MDMA use), and 17 control subjects. EEG, cerebral blood velocity by pulsed transcranial Doppler (TCD), and psychological measures were collected. Three-minute resting eyes-closed EEG recordings were obtained from 16 electrodes. The EEG was converted to 6 frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha-1, alpha-2, beta-1, and beta-2) using a fast Fourier transformation. Blood flow velocity was determined using a temporal window for the right and left middle cerebral arteries using TCD. Absolute log delta power in the EEG of MDMA abusers at central electrode sites was significantly higher than that of the MDMA/marijuana, marijuana abusers, and control subjects. There were also increases in alpha-2 EEG power observed only in marijuana abusers. The blood flow measure, diastolic velocity, was increased in MDMA abusers whether they used marijuana or not. Because increases in delta power and perfusion deficits are associated with some chronic disorders, our findings in these ecstasy abusers suggest that MDMA use may be associated with a drug-induced neuropathological state. More research is necessary to test these ideas.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on MDMA, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subjective Reports of the Effects of MDMA in a Clinical Setting Individuals who took MDMA in a clinical setting | 1986 | Observational study | |
| Memory impairment in abstinent MDMA ("Ecstasy") users Abstinent MDMA users | 1998 | Observational cohort | |
| Impaired cognitive performance in drug free users of recreational ecstasy (MDMA) Otherwise healthy young people | 2000 | Observational | |
| The Psychological and Physiological Effects of MDMA on Normal Volunteers Older, more educated, drug-experienced individuals | 1986 | Observational cohort | |
| Cognitive performance in recreational users of MDMA or 'ecstasy': evidence for memory deficits Young people who were regular or novice MDMA users, or non-users | 1998 | Observational cohort | n = 30 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Theta and Alpha Oscillatory Activity During Working Memory Maintenance in Long-Term Cannabis Users: The Importance of the Polydrug Use Context Frontiers in Human Neuroscience October 18, 2021
- Electroencephalographic and convulsive effects of binge doses of (+)-methamphetamine, 5-methoxydiisopropyltryptamine, and (±)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine in rats. The open neuropsychopharmacology journal 2012
- An introduction to psychedelic neuroscience. Progress in Brain Research 2018
Cites 9
- Memory impairment in abstinent MDMA ("Ecstasy") users Neurology December 1, 1998
- Electrophysiological Evidence of Serotonergic Impairment in Long-Term MDMA (“Ecstasy”) Users American Journal of Psychiatry October 1, 2001
- No Difference in Brain Activation During Cognitive Performance Between Ecstasy (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) Users and Control Subjects: A [H215O]-Positron Emission Tomography Study Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology February 1, 2001
- Mood state and brain electric activity in Ecstasy users Neuroreport 2000
- Psychological profile of abstinent recreational Ecstasy (MDMA) users and significance of concomitant cannabis use Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental December 1, 2001
and 4 more in the library