Drug-induced social connection: both MDMA and methamphetamine increase feelings of connectedness during controlled dyadic conversations

Abstract

MDMA is a stimulant-like drug with distinctive empathogenic effects. Its pro-social effects, such as feelings of connectedness, may contribute to both its popularity as a recreational drug and its apparent value as an adjunct to psychotherapy. However, little is known about the behavioral processes by which MDMA affects social interactions. This investigation examined the effects of MDMA (100 mg versus placebo; N = 18) on feelings of connectedness with an unfamiliar partner during a semi-structured casual conversation. A separate study examined the effects of a prototypic stimulant methamphetamine (MA; 20 mg versus placebo; N = 19) to determine the pharmacological specificity of effects. Oxytocin levels were obtained in both studies. Compared to placebo, both MDMA and MA increased feelings of connection with the conversation partners. Both MDMA and MA increased oxytocin levels, but oxytocin levels were correlated with feeling closer to the partner only after MDMA. These findings demonstrate an important new dimension of the pro-social effects of MDMA, its ability to increase feelings of connectedness during casual conversations between two individuals. Surprisingly, MA had a similar effect. The findings extend our knowledge of the social effects of these drugs, and illustrate a sensitive method for assessing pro-social effects during in-person dyadic encounters.

Substanz und Modalität

“…In der akuten Wirkphase erzeugen sie veränderte Bewusstseinszustände, etwa die Verstärkung von Emotionen, eine Lockerung von Denk- und Gefühlsstrukturen sowie eine Trübung kognitiver Fähigkeiten, die jedoch ungewohnte assoziative Denkmodi ermöglicht, emotionale Katharsis verschaffen und – insbesondere vermittelt durch die Psychotherapie – Zugang zu Inhalten des Unbewussten eröffnen kann. MDMA erzeugt emotionale Wärme, Gefühle der Geborgenheit und Verbundenheit zu anderen, die der inneren Öffnung und der Auseinandersetzung mit sich selbst zuträglich sein können 10 . Das Risikoprofil der einzelnen Substanzen ist nicht abschließend geklärt 11 .…”

Introducing IOS11 as an extended interactive version of the ‘Inclusion of Other in the Self’ scale to estimate relationship closeness

“…This holds across a wide range of relationship classes, from acquaintances to close friends 10 . The tools have been widely used across the social and behavioral sciences especially in the disciplines of psychology and sociology 11 – 16 and in various applied fields such as health 17 – 19 ; there is also growing interest in new areas of application (e.g., research in economics 20 – 22 or computer science 23 , 24 ) where, until recently, these tools had barely been used at all.…”