MDMA and methamphetamine: some paradoxical negative and positive mood changes in an acute dose laboratory study.
Andrew C. Parrott, Amy Gibbs, Andrew Scholey, Rebecca King, Katherine Owens, Phil Swann, Ed Ogden, Con Stough
Psychopharmacology June 2011 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-011-2184-9 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Double-blind Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 52 |
| Population | Healthy abstinent recreational users of stimulant drugs, 27 female and 25 male, mean age 24.8 years |
| Interventions | MDMA Methamphetamine |
| Dose | 100 mg oral MDMA; 0.42 mg/kg oral methamphetamine |
| Duration | 24 hours |
| Measures | PANAS |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Key findings | MDMA did not significantly increase positive moods but increased negative moods relative to placebo; methamphetamine increased both positive and negative moods. The authors propose that the neutral laboratory environment may explain MDMA's lack of euphoric effect. |
Abstract
This study investigated the acute mood effects of oral MDMA, methamphetamine, and placebo in a double-blind laboratory study. Fifty-two healthy participants comprised abstinent recreational users of stimulant drugs, 27 female and 25 male, mean age 24.8 years. Three test sessions involved acute 100 mg oral 3.4-methylendioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), 0.42 mg/kg oral methamphetamine, and matching placebo. Drug administration was counterbalanced, testing was double-blind, and medical supervision was present throughout. Car-driving performance on a laboratory simulator was assessed after 3 and 24 h, with the findings being presented elsewhere. Positive and negative moods (PANAS self-ratings) were completed before drug administration, 3, 4.5, and 24 h later. Blood samples were taken to monitor drug plasma levels. Following MDMA, there were no significant increases in positive moods, whereas negative moods were significantly higher than under placebo. Methamphetamine led to significant increases in both positive and negative moods. The MDMA findings contrast with the elated moods, typically noted by dance clubbers on Ecstasy. However, they are consistent with some previous laboratory findings, since a wide array of positive and negative mood changes have been demonstrated. One possible explanatory factor was the neutral environmental situation, particularly if a primary action of MDMA is to intensify ongoing psychological states. Other explanatory factors, such as dosage, gender, post-drug timing, neurohormonal aspects, and social factors, are also discussed. In the laboratory, acute methamphetamine led to significantly higher positive moods. However, against expectations, MDMA did not generate a significant increase in positive moods.