European Neuropsychopharmacology
October 1, 2017
Michael D. Wunderli, Matthias Vonmoos, Marina Fürst et al.
37 citations
Chronic use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") has repeatedly been associated with deficits in working memory, declarative memory, and executive functions. However, previous findings regarding working memory and executive function are inconclusive yet, as in most studies concomitant stimulant use, which is known to affect these functions, was not adequately controlled for....
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
September 22, 2017
Joseph J Palamar
Ecstasy (MDMA) has regained popularity in powder and crystalline form, known as Molly. However, it is unknown whether all Molly users are aware that Molly is ecstasy. A total of 1045 nightclub/festival-attending adults in New York City were surveyed about ecstasy/MDMA/Molly use in 2016. Users were asked if they agreed that "Molly is (or is supposed to be) ecstasy/MDMA." Of the 43.5% reporting...
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
September 1, 2017
Karin J H Verweij, Jorien L Treur, Annabel Vreeker et al.
Ecstasy is a widely used psychoactive drug that users often take because they experience positive effects such as increased euphoria, sociability, elevated mood, and heightened sensations. Ecstasy use is not harmless and several immediate and long term side effects have been identified. Lifetime ecstasy use is likely to be partly influenced by genetic factors, but no twin study has determined...
Addiction Biology
September 2017
Jacques D. Nguyen, Yanabel Grant, Kevin M Creehan et al.
The recreational use of substituted cathinones continues to grow as a public health concern in the United States. Studies have shown that extended access to intravenous (i.v.) self-administration of stimulants, such as cocaine and methamphetamine, results in escalation of drug intake relative to shorter access; however, little is known about the impact of extended access on self-administration...
Neuropharmacology
September 1, 2017
Cristina Cadoni, Augusta Pisanu, Nicola Simola et al.
Although MDMA (3,4-methylendioxymethamphetamine, ecstasy) neurotoxicity in serotonin neurons is largely recognized in a wide variety of species including man, neurotoxicity in dopamine (DA) neurons is thought to be species-specific. MDMA is mainly consumed by adolescents, often in conjunction with caffeine (Energy Drinks) and this association has been reported to exacerbate MDMA toxic effects....
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
September 2017
Astrid Haaland, Elliot Warman, Illya Pushkar et al.
This is a case of a 19-year-old male who presented to the medical tent at an outdoor electronic dance music festival (EDMF) due to an altered mental state in the setting of acute 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) intoxication. He was noted to be in severe respiratory distress, required endotracheal intubation in the field and subsequently developed Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome...
Neuropsychopharmacology
September 1, 2017
Elizabeth G Pitts, Adelaide R. Minerva, Erika B Chandler et al.
20 citations
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) increases sociality in humans and animals. Release of serotonin (5-HT) is thought to have an important role in the increase in social behaviors, but the mechanisms underlying these effects are poorly understood. Despite the advantages of nonhuman primate models, no studies have examined the mechanisms of the social effects of MDMA in nonhuman primates....
Drug Testing and Analysis
August 29, 2017
Torsten Passie, Udo Benzenhöfer
43 citations
Abstract This article describes the context in which 3,4‐methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and other mescaline‐like compounds were explored as hallucinogens for military and intelligence purposes from the 1940s to the 1960s. Germans first tested mescaline as a “truth drug” in a military context. In the 1940s, the United States military started testing...
Psychopharmacology
August 23, 2017
Ben Sessa
92 citations
Given the plethora of new studies and published papers in the scientific press and the increasingly emerging presence of articles about positive psychedelic experiences appearing in the popular media, there is little doubt that we are in the midst of a Psychedelic Renaissance. The classical psychedelic drugs LSD and psilocybin and the entactogen MDMA are showing promise as tools to assist...
Frontiers in Psychiatry
August 13, 2017
Luisa Ponzoni, Daniela Braida, Gianpietro Bondiolotti et al.
9 citations
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and its derivatives, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromo-amphetamine hydrobromide (DOB) and para-methoxyamphetamine (PMA) are recreational drugs whose pharmacological effects have recently been attributed to serotonin 5HT2A/C receptors. However, there is growing evidence that the oxytocin/vasopressin system can modulate some the effects of MDMA. In this study, MDMA...
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
August 8, 2017
Carl Alexander Roberts, Boris B. Quednow, Catharine Montgomery et al.
25 citations
MDMA/Ecstasy has had a resurgence in popularity, with recent supplies comprising higher strength MDMA, potentially leading to increased drug-related harm. Neurocognitive problems have been widely reported in ecstasy users, equally some studies report null findings, and it remains unclear which factors underlie the development of neurocognitive impairments. This review covers the empirical...
Journal of Psychopharmacology
August 2017
Andrew C. Parrott, Luke A. Downey, Carl A Roberts et al.
The purpose of this article is to debate current understandings about the psychobiological effects of recreational 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or 'ecstasy'), and recommend theoretically-driven topics for future research. Recent empirical findings, especially those from novel topic areas were reviewed. Potential causes for the high variance often found in group findings were also...
Progress in Neurobiology
August 2017
Rosario Moratalla, Amit Khairnar, Nicola Simola et al.
Amphetamine-related drugs, such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and methamphetamine (METH), are popular recreational psychostimulants. Several preclinical studies have demonstrated that, besides having the potential for abuse, amphetamine-related drugs may also elicit neurotoxic and neuroinflammatory effects. The neurotoxic potentials of MDMA and METH to dopaminergic and...
Journal of Psychopharmacology
August 1, 2017
Mark T Wagner, Michael C Mithoefer, Ann T Mithoefer et al.
163 citations
A growing body of research suggests that traumatic events lead to persisting personality change characterized by increased neuroticism. Relevantly, enduring improvements in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms have been found in response to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy. There is evidence that lasting changes in the personality feature of "openness"...
Psychopharmacology
July 24, 2017
Matthew B Young, Seth D. Norrholm, Lara M. Khoury et al.
103 citations
We validate enhancement of fear memory extinction by MDMA in a translational behavioral model, and reveal the importance of 5-HTT and 5-HT2A receptors to this effect. These observations support future clinical research of MDMA as an adjunct to exposure therapy, and provide important pharmacological considerations for clinical use in a population frequently treated with 5-HTT inhibitors.
Psychopharmacology
July 22, 2017
Kim P. C. Kuypers, Rafael de la Torre, Magı́ Farré et al.
24 citations
MDMA has been shown to induce feelings of sociability, a positive emotional bias and enhanced empathy. While previous research has used only visual emotional stimuli, communication entails more than that single dimension and it is known that auditory information is also crucial in this process. In addition, it is, however, unclear what the neurobiological mechanism underlying these MDMA effects...
Journal of Proteome Research
July 19, 2017
Martina I. Boxler, Matthias E. Liechti, Yasmin Schmid et al.
17 citations
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; "ecstasy") is widely consumed recreationally. Little is known about its effects on the human metabolome. Mapping biochemical changes after drug exposure can complement traditional approaches by revealing potential biomarkers of organ toxicity or discovering new metabolomic features in a time- and dose-dependent manner. We aimed to analyze for the first...
Frontiers in Pharmacology
July 11, 2017
Drew J. Puxty, Johannes G. Ramaekers, Rafael de la Torre et al.
33 citations
Previous research has shown that a single dose of MDMA induce a dissociative state, by elevating feelings of depersonalization and derealization. Typically, it is assumed that action on the 5-HT2A receptor is the mechanism underlying these psychedelic experiences. In addition, other studies have shown associations between dissociative states and biological parameters (heart rate, cortisol),...
Journal of Psychopharmacology
July 10, 2017
Sarah Saleemi, Steven Pennybaker, Missi Wooldridge et al.
97 citations
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), often sold as ‘Ecstasy’ or ‘Molly’, is commonly used at music festivals and reported to be responsible for an increase in deaths over the last decade. Ecstasy is often adulterated and contains compounds that increase morbidity and mortality. While users and clinicians commonly assume that products sold as Molly are less-adulterated MDMA products, this has...
Psychopharmacology
July 1, 2017
Anya K. Bershad, Melissa A. Miller, Harriet de Wit
12 citations
Rationale ±3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “ecstasy”) is a stimulant-psychedelic drug with unique social effects. It may dampen reactivity to negative social stimuli such as social threat and rejection. Perhaps because of these effects, MDMA has shown promise as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the effect of single doses of MDMA on responses to an acute...