Effects of MDMA on socioemotional feelings, authenticity, and autobiographical disclosure in healthy volunteers in a controlled setting

Mj, Baggott; Coyle, Doug; Jd, Siegrist; Kj, Garrison; Gp, Galloway; Je, Mendelson

doi:10.1101/021329

Cited by 1 publication

(5 citation statements)

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“…Previous studies addressing the behavioral and subjective mechanisms of MDMA-related effects have provided some insights into these questions. MDMA may specifically dampen negative memories, as described in a recent report by Baggott et al (2015). This study found that acute doses of MDMA increased self-reported anxiety, but it also paradoxically increased how comfortable participants felt describing emotional memories.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

“…Subjects did not indicate that they liked the drug more after acute stress, when their cortisol levels were elevated. MDMA can also, like acute social stress, increase ratings of anxiety (Baggott et al 2015; Kirkpatrick et al 2012). Interestingly, in one study, the drug increased ratings of anxiety even while dampening fear of negative social evaluation (Baggott et al 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…MDMA can also, like acute social stress, increase ratings of anxiety (Baggott et al 2015; Kirkpatrick et al 2012). Interestingly, in one study, the drug increased ratings of anxiety even while dampening fear of negative social evaluation (Baggott et al 2015). Thus, MDMA has some stress-like effects on both physiological and subjective ratings, but these are nuanced and may depend on both the setting and the population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It decreases the ability to identify angry facial expressions, reduces amygdala reactivity to threatening faces, and reduces feelings of rejection during simulated social rejection (Bedi et al 2010, 2009; Frye et al 2014; Hysek et al 2012; Kirkpatrick et al 2014b; Schmid et al 2014; Wardle and de Wit 2014; Kuypers et al 2014). In one recent study, Baggott et al (2015) reported that MDMA reduced fear of negative evaluation by others. Why MDMA sometimes appears to increase and other times reduce sensitivity to stress or social threat is not understood.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…These combined effects may pose a safety risk, or, it has been suggested that the combined effects enhance the stimulant-like subjective effects of MDMA, making them more attractive to recreational users (Parrott 2009). In addition to eliciting a physiological stress response, there are also reports that single doses of MDMA can increase anxiety (Baggott et al 2015; Kirkpatrick et al 2012), and chronic MDMA users report high levels of stress and anxiety (Parrott 2001; Rodgers et al 2006). Chronic MDMA users also exhibit heightened basal cortisol levels and perhaps relatedly, reduced cortisol responses to acute stress (Gerra et al 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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MDMA does not alter responses to the Trier Social Stress Test in humans

2017

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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 psychosocial stressor has not been tested. Objectives In this study, we sought to test the effects of MDMA on responses to stress in healthy adults using a public speaking task. We hypothesized that the drug would reduce responses to the stressful task. Methods Volunteers (N = 39) were randomly assigned to receive placebo (N = 13), 0.5 mg/kg MDMA (N = 13), or 1.0 mg/kg MDMA (N = 13) during a stress and a no-stress session. Dependent measures included subjective reports of drug effects and emotional responses to the task, as well as salivary cortisol, heart rate, and blood pressure. Results The stress task produced its expected increase in physiological responses (cortisol, heart rate) and subjective ratings of stress in all three groups, and MDMA produced its expected subjective and physiological effects. MDMA alone increased ratings of subjective stress, heart rate, and saliva cortisol concentrations, but contrary to our hypothesis, it did not moderate responses to the Trier Social Stress Test. Conclusions Despite its efficacy in PTSD and anxiety, MDMA did not reduce either the subjective or objective responses to stress in this controlled study. The conditions under which MDMA relieves responses to negative events or memories remain to be determined.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%