Ecstasy use and higher-level cognitive functions: weak effects of ecstasy after control for potential confounds
Psychological Medicine September 1, 2008 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291708002730 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 133 |
| Population | Abstinent ecstasy polydrug users, cannabis polydrug users, and legal drug users |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Citations | 68 |
| Key findings | Heavy ecstasy use is associated with some lowering of higher-level cognitive functions, but not with substantial cognitive dysfunction. |
Abstract
BackgroundAlthough there have been several reports linking ecstasy use with lowered cognitive function, much previous research suffers from substantial methodological limitations. The present study aimed to examine associations between ecstasy use and higher-level cognitive functions, using a larger sample size than most previous research and better controlling for a range of potential confounds.MethodA cross-sectional cohort design assessed 45 currently abstinent ecstasy polydrug users (EP), 48 cannabis polydrug users (CP) and 40 legal drug users (LD). Standardized neuropsychological tests were used to measure attention, verbal, visual and working memory and executive function. Prospective memory function was also assessed.ResultsIt was not possible to discriminate between groups on the basis of the cognitive functions assessed. Regression analyses showed an inverse association between lifetime dose of ecstasy and verbal memory performance. A combination of drug-use variables, including measures of ecstasy use, contributed to prediction of attention/working memory. However, individual associations were small, explaining 1–6% of variance in cognitive scores.ConclusionsAlthough the results suggest that heavy use of ecstasy is associated with some lowering of higher-level cognitive functions, they do not indicate a clinical picture of substantial cognitive dysfunction.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on MDMA, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recreational MDMA use in Sydney: a profile of ‘Ecstasy’ users and their experiences with the drug Recreational Ecstasy users recruited via snowball peer network | 1992 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 100 |
| Reducedin vivobinding to the serotonin transporter in the cerebral cortex of MDMA (‘ecstasy’) users Male regular ecstasy users and well-matched controls | 1999 | Cross-sectional association study | n = 20 |
| Patterns of simultaneous polysubstance use in drug using university students Drug-using university students | 2006 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 149 |
| Patterns of recreational drug use at dance events in Edinburgh, Scotland Drug users at dance events in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, aged 16-47, 80% between 18 and... | 2001 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 122 |
| Acute, sub‐acute and long‐term subjective consequences of ‘ecstasy’ (MDMA) consumption in 430 regular users Regular MDMA users | 2003 | Cross-sectional study | n = 466 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 31
- Durability of improvement in post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and absence of harmful effects or drug dependency after 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy: a prospective long-term follow-up study. Journal of Psychopharmacology 2013
- Neurotoxicity of drugs of abuse - the case of methylenedioxy amphetamines (MDMA, ecstasy ), and amphetamines Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience September 30, 2009
- History and future of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 2014
- A prospective study of learning, memory, and executive function in new MDMA users Addiction July 26, 2012
- MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) Analogues as Tools to Characterize MDMA-Like Effects: An Approach to Understand Entactogen Pharmacology Current Neuropharmacology August 1, 2013
and 26 more in the library
Cites 20
- Memory impairment in abstinent MDMA ("Ecstasy") users Neurology December 1, 1998
- Impaired cognitive performance in drug free users of recreational ecstasy (MDMA) Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry June 1, 2000
- (±3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Selectively Damages Central Serotonergic Neurons in Nonhuman Primates JAMA July 1, 1988
- Cognitive performance in recreational users of MDMA or 'ecstasy': evidence for memory deficits Journal of Psychopharmacology 1998
- Mood, cognition and serotonin transporter availability in current and former ecstasy (MDMA) users: the longitudinal perspective Journal of Psychopharmacology March 1, 2006
and 15 more in the library