Effects of MDMA and Intranasal oxytocin on social and emotional processing.
Matthew G. Kirkpatrick, Royce Lee, Margaret C. Wardle, Suma Jacob, Harriet de Wit
Neuropsychopharmacology June 2014 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2014.12 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | 4-session, within-between-subjects double-blind study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 65 |
| Population | Healthy human volunteers who were MDMA users |
| Interventions | MDMA Oxytocin |
| Dose | MDMA 0.75 and 1.5 mg/kg; oxytocin 20 or 40 IU |
| Duration | 4 sessions |
| Measures | emotion recognition, sociability (desire to be with others), heart rate, blood pressure, subjective effects including 'High' and 'Like Drug' |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Key points | MDMA dose-dependently increased cardiovascular measures and euphoria, impaired recognition of angry and fearful facial expressions, and at 1.5 mg/kg increased desire to be with others. Oxytocin produced small increases in sociability and enhanced recognition of sad faces. The authors report only limited support for the idea that oxytocin produces MDMA's prosocial effects. |
Abstract
MDMA (± 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, 'ecstasy') is used recreationally, reportedly because it increases feelings of empathy, sociability, and interpersonal closeness. One line of evidence suggests that MDMA produces these effects by releasing oxytocin, a peptide involved in social bonding. In the current study, we investigated the acute effects of MDMA and oxytocin on social and emotional processing in healthy human volunteers. MDMA users (N = 65) participated in a 4-session, within-between-subjects study in which they received oral MDMA (0.75, 1.5 mg/kg), intranasal oxytocin (20 or 40 IU), or placebo under double-blind conditions. The primary outcomes included measures of emotion recognition and sociability (desire to be with others). Cardiovascular and subjective effects were also assessed. As expected, MDMA dose-dependently increased heart rate and blood pressure and feelings of euphoria (eg, 'High' and 'Like Drug'). On measures of social function, MDMA impaired recognition of angry and fearful facial expressions, and the larger dose (1.5 mg/kg) increased desire to be with others, compared with placebo. Oxytocin produced small but significant increases in feelings of sociability and enhanced recognition of sad facial expressions. Additionally, responses to oxytocin were related to responses to MDMA with subjects on two subjective measures of sociability. Thus, MDMA increased euphoria and feelings of sociability, perhaps by reducing sensitivity to subtle signs of negative emotions in others. The present findings provide only limited support for the idea that oxytocin produces the prosocial effects of MDMA.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on MDMA, most cited first.
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