MDMA alters emotional processing and facilitates positive social interaction

Abstract

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.

Naltrexone alters the processing of social and emotional stimuli in healthy adults

“…Therefore, as described below, EMG analyses included intensity at display termination as a covariate. Of note, this is consistent with our procedure in our two prior studies using this same measure (Wardle & de Wit, 2014; Wardle et al, 2012). EMG was measured using two pairs of 4 mm Ag/AgCl electrodes filled with electrolyte gel attached over the left corrugator and zygomatic muscles and the common ground sensor.…”

“…Second, it is possible that effects of NTX on our positive stimuli were present, but were not captured by our measures. Although these and similar measures have been sensitive to a variety of pharmacological manipulations (Wardle & de Wit, 2014; Wardle et al, 2012, 2014), including opiate manipulations (Bershad et al, 2016; Gospic et al, 2008; Ipser et al, 2013), it is possible that the effects of acute NTX on positive stimuli are subtle enough that they are better captured with neural measures like EEG and fMRI (e.g., Murray et al, 2014; Petrovic et al, 2008; Schweiger et al, 2013). Last, it may be that the dosing regimen was not sufficient to produce effects on positive stimuli.…”

“…To measure identification of and response to emotional facial expressions, we used the Dynamic Emotional Identification Task (DEIT), as adapted in our laboratory (Benton et al, 2007; Wardle & de Wit, 2014; Wardle et al, 2012). This task has previously been shown to be sensitive to effects of drugs that alter social and emotional processing (Wardle & de Wit, 2014; Wardle et al, 2012).…”

“…This task has previously been shown to be sensitive to effects of drugs that alter social and emotional processing (Wardle & de Wit, 2014; Wardle et al, 2012). The task consists of 40 sequences showing five female and five male actors performing angry, fearful, sad and happy expressions.…”

Pharmacological challenge studies with acute psychosocial stress

“…Finally, Bershad et al (2017) studied the effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg) on the TSST. The study was based on reports that MDMA has ‘prosocial’ effects and decreases reactivity to negative social stimuli (Bedi et al, 2009; Hysek et al, 2012; Frye et al, 2014; Kirkpatrick et al, 2014; Wardle and de Wit, 2014; Bershad et al, 2016). Thus, it was hypothesized that the drug would dampen reactivity to the social evaluative stress component of the TSST.…”