Impaired executive function in male MDMA (?ecstasy?) users

Geusau, Niels Alting von; Stalenhoef, Pieter; Huizinga, Mariëtte; Snel, J.; Ridderinkhof, K. Richard

doi:10.1007/s00213-004-1832-8

Cited by 70 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Based on these criteria, 23 studies were included in the "lenient" analyses (Back-Madruga et al 2003;Bhattachary and Powell 2001;Daumann et al 2003;Fisk et al 2004;Fox et al 2001;Gouzoulis-Mayfrank et al 2000Halpern et al 2004;Hanson and Luciana 2004;Heffernan et al 2001;McCann et al 1999;McCardle et al 2004;Montgomery et al 2005;Morgan 1999;Morgan et al 2002;Reneman et al 2000;Rodgers 2000;Simon and Mattick 2002;Verkes et al 2001;Vollenweider et al 2005;von Geusau et al 2004;Wareing et al 2000). An alternative set of criteria was relatively stringent.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

MDMA use and neurocognition: a meta-analytic review

et al. 2006

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Rationale To determine the association between MDMA misuse and neurocognition using meta-analysis. Objective Separate analyses were conducted based on two sets of inclusion/exclusion criteria. A relatively stringent set required that the subjects be matched on important moderator variables, whereas the other did not. The study participants' performance in the following neurocognitive domains was reviewed: attention/concentration, verbal and nonverbal learning and memory, psychomotor speed and executive systems functioning. Results In the 11 studies meeting the relatively stringent inclusion/exclusion criteria for this review, MDMA use was associated with neurocognitive deficits in each domain. Similarly, in the 23 studies meeting the relatively lenient inclusion/exclusion criteria for this review, MDMA use was associated with neurocognitive deficits in each domain. Small to medium effect sizes were generally observed. A comparison of the effect sizes across the two sets of analyses did not reveal significant differences. Conclusions The findings from this review reveal that MDMA use is associated with neurocognitive deficits. The implications of these findings are discussed.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

MDMA use and neurocognition: a meta-analytic review

et al. 2006

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“…The most consistently observed clinical deficit that has been reported in human MDMA users has been cognitive dysfunction, particularly in the areas of short-term memory (Krystal et al, 1992;Bolla et al, 1998;McCann et al, 1999;Rodgers, 2000;Morgan, 2000;Parrott, 2000;Zakzanis and Young, 2001;Verkes et al, 2001) and, possibly, certain tasks of executive functioning (Heffernan et al, 2001;von Geusau et al, 2004;Dafters, 2006). However, findings have not always been consistent (Croft et al, 2001;GouzoulisMayfrank et al, 2000;Simon and Mattick, 2002;Thomasius et al, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

The Effect of Catecholamine Depletion by Alpha-Methyl-Para-Tyrosine on Measures of Cognitive Performance and Sleep in Abstinent MDMA Users

McCann¹,

Peterson²,

Ricaurte³

2007

Neuropsychopharmacol

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(7) 3, 4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a popular recreational drug of abuse and a brain serotonin (5-HT) neurotoxin in animals. Growing evidence suggests that humans who use MDMA recreationally can also develop 5-HT neurotoxic injury, although functional consequences have been difficult to identify. Twenty-five abstinent MDMA users and 23 non-MDMA using controls were studied to determine whether pharmacologic depletion of brain catecholamines by alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine (AMPT) would differentially effect MDMA users on measures of cognition and sleep, two processes dually modulated by brain serotonergic and catecholaminergic neurons. During a 5-day in-patient study, all subjects underwent formal neuropsychiatric testing, repeated computerized cognitive testing, and all-night sleep studies. At baseline, MDMA users had performance deficits on tasks of verbal and visuospatial working memory and displayed increased behavioral impulsivity on several computerized tasks, reflecting a tendency to perform quickly at the expense of accuracy. Baseline sleep architecture was also altered in abstinent MDMA users compared to controls. AMPT produced differential effects in MDMA users compared to controls on several cognitive and sleep measures. Differences in cognitive performance, impulsivity, and sleep were significantly correlated with MDMA use. These data extend findings from earlier studies demonstrating cognitive deficits, behavioral impulsivity, and sleep alterations in abstinent MDMA users, and suggest that lasting effects of MDMA lead to alterations in the ability to modulate behaviors reciprocally influenced by 5-HT and catecholamines. More research is needed to determine potential relationships between sleep abnormalities, cognitive deficits and impulsive behavior in abstinent MDMA users.

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“…Compared to ecstasy-naive illicit drug users, recreational ecstasy users have been reported to exhibit persistent impairments of episodic memory and 'executive functions', including deficits in attention and working memory (eg Morgan, 1999;McCann et al, 1999;Gouzoulis-Mayfrank et al, 2000Rodgers, 2000;Wareing et al, 2000Wareing et al, , 2004Verkes et al, 2001;Fox et al, 2002;Morgan et al, 2002;Hanson and Luciana, 2004;von Geusau et al, 2004). Impaired 'executive functions' and 5-HT depletion are both thought to play a role in impulse control (eg Evenden, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%