Are ecstasy users biased toward endorsing somatic mental health symptoms? Results from a general community sample.
Amanda M George, Tim D Windsor, Bryan Rodgers
Psychopharmacology April 2011 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-010-2100-8 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study using multiple indicator, multiple cause models Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 316 |
| Population | Current ecstasy users aged 24-30 years identified from a population-based Australian study |
| Measures | Goldberg anxiety/depression symptom scales |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Key findings | No bias toward endorsing somatic symptoms was found with higher ecstasy use, both with and without adjustment for gender, cannabis, and meth/amphetamine use. The authors suggest other studies using alternate mental health measures should adopt this approach to test for somatic symptom endorsement bias. |
Abstract
Whether the reported poorer mental health of ecstasy users is due to a bias in endorsement of somatic symptoms has been postulated, but rarely examined. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether levels of ecstasy use were associated with differential probabilities of endorsing somatic mental health symptoms. Current ecstasy users aged 24-30 years (n = 316) were identified from a population-based Australian study. Measures included frequency of ecstasy, meth/amphetamine, and cannabis use and the Goldberg anxiety/depression symptom scales. Multiple indicator, multiple cause models demonstrated no bias towards endorsing somatic symptoms with higher ecstasy use, both with and without adjustment for gender, cannabis, and meth/amphetamine use. Other studies using alternate measures of mental health should adopt this approach to determine if there is a bias in the endorsement of somatic symptoms among ecstasy users.
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
Cites 9
- Serotonergic function after (±)3,4-methylene-dioxymethamphetarnine (‘Ecstasy’) in humans International Clinical Psychopharmacology 1998
- Former chronic methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ecstasy) users report mild depressive symptoms Journal of Psychopharmacology May 1, 2001
- Cognitive function and mood in MDMA/THC users, THC users and non-drug using controls Journal of Psychopharmacology March 1, 2006
- Neurocognitive function in users of MDMA: the importance of clinically significant patterns of use Psychological Medicine January 28, 2004
- Problematic versus non-problematic ecstasy/MDMA use: the influence of drug usage patterns and pre-existing psychiatric factors Journal of Psychopharmacology March 30, 2006
and 4 more in the library