Ecstasy (MDMA) and high prevalence psychiatric symptomatology: somatic anxiety symptoms are associated with polydrug, not ecstasy, use
G. Bedi, NT Van Dam, J. Redman
Journal of Psychopharmacology February 1, 2010 DOI: 10.1177/0269881108097631 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 133 |
| Population | Ecstasy polydrug users, cannabis polydrug users, and legal drug users |
| Topics | Anxiety MDMA |
| Key findings | Anxiety and depression scores were higher in polydrug users than legal drug users, with no difference between ecstasy and cannabis groups. The authors suggest that high psychiatric symptomatology in ecstasy polydrug users may be associated with polydrug use rather than ecstasy specifically, and that higher ratings appear secondary to increased somatic symptom reporting. |
Abstract
Although previous studies have examined anxiety and depression in ecstasy (±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine; MDMA) users, it remains unclear whether symptoms are associated specifically with ecstasy or with polydrug use in general. We compared mean symptomatology and clinically significant symptoms in 45 ecstasy polydrug, 48 cannabis polydrug and 40 legal drug users, who completed standardised self-report anxiety and depression symptom measures. We further examined whether group differences were secondary to increased somatic symptom reporting, which may reflect acute/subacute drug effects. Anxiety and depression scores were higher in polydrug than legal drug users, with no difference between ecstasy and cannabis groups. There was no difference in numbers meeting criteria for clinically significant depression or ‘moderate’ or ‘severe’ anxiety, but the polydrug group contained more individuals reporting at least ‘mild’ anxiety symptoms than the legal drug control. Multivariate analyses indicated that anxiety alone was sufficient to discriminate groups. Polydrug users reported more somatic anxiety symptoms than legal drug users, but endorsed equivalent numbers of non-somatic symptoms. High prevalence psychiatric symptomatology in ecstasy polydrug users may be associated with polydrug rather than ecstasy use. Higher ratings in polydrug users appear to be secondary to increased somatic symptom reporting, suggesting possible impacts of drug effects on symptom endorsement.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on MDMA for anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecstasy/MDMA attributed problems reported by novice, moderate and heavy recreational users Ecstasy users who participated in a WWW study of recreational drug use | 2002 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 282 |
| Problematic versus non-problematic ecstasy/MDMA use: the influence of drug usage patterns and pre-existing psychiatric factors Recreational ecstasy users (problematic and non-problematic), polydrug controls, and... | 2006 | Cross-sectional study | n = 288 |
| Anxiety and depression symptoms in Brazilian sexual minority ecstasy and LSD users Young Brazilian adults who used ecstasy and/or LSD in the past 90 days and were not in... | 2017 | Cross-sectional study | n = 240 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 9
- The ugly side of amphetamines: short- and long-term toxicity of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘Ecstasy’), methamphetamine and d-amphetamine Biological Chemistry January 2, 2011
- 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): current perspectives Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation November 1, 2013
- History and future of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 2014
- Posttraumatic Growth After MDMA‐Assisted Psychotherapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Journal of Traumatic Stress February 19, 2020
- Strategic control, consolidation and poly-drug use; the relative contributions to verbal memory impairment in recreational ecstasy users UTAS Research Repository August 1, 2014
and 4 more in the library
Cites 19
- Gender differences in the subjective effects of MDMA Psychopharmacology March 5, 2001
- Human psychopharmacology of Ecstasy (MDMA): a review of 15 years of empirical research Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental December 1, 2001
- (±)3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (‘Ecstasy’)-Induced Serotonin Neurotoxicity: Studies in Animals Neuropsychobiology 2000
- Cognitive performance in recreational users of MDMA or 'ecstasy': evidence for memory deficits Journal of Psychopharmacology 1998
- Ecstasy/MDMA attributed problems reported by novice, moderate and heavy recreational users Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental July 12, 2002
and 14 more in the library