Amphetamine analogs methamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) differentially affect speech

Marrone, Gina F.; Pardo, Jennifer S.; Krauss, Robert M.; Hart, Carl L.

doi:10.1007/s00213-009-1715-0

Cited by 32 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…We showed that MDMA increased use of positive emotion words in a real-time verbal interaction. Although a previous study found that MDMA did not increase observer-ratings of happiness or sociability during interactions (Marrone et al 2010), we detected an increase in positive language using the more sensitive method of transcribing and scoring speech with a validated dictionary. MDMA also slightly increased participants’ perceptions of empathy and regard in their interaction partner; consistent with suggestions that MDMA improves therapist-client alliance (Bouso et al 2008; Johansen and Krebs 2009; Mithoefer et al 2011).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 90%

MDMA alters emotional processing and facilitates positive social interaction

Wardle

Wit

2014

Psychopharmacology

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Background ±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “ecstasy”) produces “prosocial” effects, such as feelings of empathy and closeness, thought to be important to its abuse and its value in psychotherapy. However, it is not fully understood how MDMA alters basic emotional processes to produce these effects, or whether it produces corresponding changes in actual social behavior. Here we examined how MDMA affects perceptions of and responses to emotional expressions, and tested its effects on behavior during a social interaction. We also examined whether MDMA’s prosocial effects related to a measure of abuse liability. Methods Over three sessions 36 healthy volunteers with previous ecstasy use received MDMA (0.75mg/kg, 1.5mg/kg) and placebo under double-blind conditions. We measured i) mood and cardiovascular effects, ii) perception of and psychophysiological responses to emotional expressions iii) use of positive and negative words in a social interaction and iv) perceptions of an interaction partner. We then tested whether these effects predicted desire to take the drug again. Results MDMA slowed perception of angry expressions, increased psychophysiological responses to happy expressions, and increased positive word use and perceptions of partner empathy and regard in a social interaction. These effects were not strongly related to desire to take the drug again. Conclusions MDMA alters basic emotional processes by slowing identification of negative emotions and increasing responses to positive emotions in others. Further, it positively affects behavior and perceptions during actual social interaction. These effects may contribute to the efficacy of MDMA in psychotherapy, but appear less closely related to its abuse potential.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 90%

MDMA alters emotional processing and facilitates positive social interaction

Wardle

Wit

2014

Psychopharmacology

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“…This nonlinear dose response on measures of social interaction remains to be investigated. The effects of MDMA on social interaction appear to be similar to effects of several other drugs, including alcohol and other stimulant drugs (Higgins and Stitzer 1988; Lindfors and Lindman 1987; Marrone et al 2010; Stitzer et al 1981; Ward et al 1997). Whether specific aspects of the pro-social effects of MDMA distinguish it from other drugs remains to be determined.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

“…The drug is commonly used in social settings, and MDMA users claim that they use the drug specifically to experience the prosocial effects (Bravo 2001; Sumnall et al 2006). The interactions between this and other drugs and social environments are likely to be bi-directional: Drugs such as alcohol and stimulant drugs increase talking and social interaction (Higgins and Stitzer 1988; Lindfors and Lindman 1987; Marrone et al 2010; Stitzer et al 1981; Ward et al 1997), and conversely, many drugs are experienced as more pleasurable in the presence of others (e.g., alcohol: (Doty and de Wit 1995; Kirkpatrick and de Wit 2013), diazepam (Evans et al 1996), marijuana (Kelly et al 1994), and d- amphetamine (de Wit et al 1997). Despite the known role of social context on drug responses, relatively few controlled studies have examined these interactions in human volunteers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

MDMA: a social drug in a social context

Kirkpatrick

Wit

2014

Psychopharmacology

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Rationale The drug ±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “ecstasy”, “molly”) is thought to produce pro-social effects and enhance social interaction. However, in most laboratory studies to date, the participants have been tested under non-social conditions, which may not simulate the effects the drug produces in more naturalistic social settings. Methods Healthy experienced MDMA users participated in three laboratory sessions in which they received MDMA (0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg or placebo; double blind). They were randomly assigned to one of three social conditions, in which they were tested alone (SOL; N=10), in the presence of a research assistant (RAP; N=11) or in the presence of another participant who also received the drug (OPP; N=11). Results As expected, MDMA increased heart rate and blood pressure, and produced positive subjective effects in all three groups. It also increased ratings of attractiveness of another person and increased social interaction in RAP and OPP. The social context affected certain responses to the drug. The effects of MDMA were greater in the OPP condition, compared to the SOL or RAP conditions, on measures of “feel drug”, “dizzy” and on cardiovascular measures. But responses to the drug on other measures, including social behavior, did not differ across the conditions. Conclusions These findings provide some support for the idea that drugs produce greater effects when they are used in the presence of other drug users. However, the influence of the social context was modest, and it remains to be determined whether other variables related to social context would substantially alter the effects of MDMA or other drugs.

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“…Although MDMA is structurally similar to psychostimulants such as amphetamine and methamphetamine, it produces less psychomotor activation, including speech, compared to these drugs (Marrone et al, 2010; Kirkpatrick et al, 2012). MDMA also appears to differ from psychostimulants in that it can induce the feeling of cognitive impairments (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Whereas Marrone and colleagues (2010) studied the effect of MDMA on talking by asking them to recount the plot of a movie, our task involved speaking about a psychologically important target person. Under the influence of the drug, participants in our study described the target person using proportionally fewer phrases with psychological content and more with factual content.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intimate insight: MDMA changes how people talk about significant others

et al. 2015

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Rationale ±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is widely believed to increase sociability. The drug alters speech production and fluency, and may influence speech content. Here, we investigated the effect of MDMA on speech content, which may reveal how this drug affects social interactions. Method 35 healthy volunteers with prior MDMA experience completed this two-session, within-subjects, double-blind study during which they received 1.5 mg/kg oral MDMA and placebo. Participants completed a 5-min standardized talking task during which they discussed a close personal relationship (e.g., a friend or family member) with a research assistant. The conversations were analyzed for selected content categories (e.g., words pertaining to affect, social interaction, and cognition), using both a standard dictionary method (Pennebaker’s Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count: LIWC) and a machine learning method using random forest classifiers. Results Both analytic methods revealed that MDMA altered speech content relative to placebo. Using LIWC scores, the drug increased use of social and sexual words, consistent with reports that MDMA increases willingness to disclose. Using the machine learning algorithm, we found that MDMA increased use of social words and words relating to both positive and negative emotions. Conclusions These findings are consistent with reports that MDMA acutely alters speech content, specifically increasing emotional and social content during a brief semistructured dyadic interaction. Studying effects of psychoactive drugs on speech content may offer new insights into drug effects on mental states, and on emotional and psychosocial interaction.

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Amphetamine analogs methamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) differentially affect speech

Cited by 32 publications

References 49 publications

MDMA alters emotional processing and facilitates positive social interaction

MDMA alters emotional processing and facilitates positive social interaction

MDMA: a social drug in a social context

Intimate insight: MDMA changes how people talk about significant others

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