Self-reported psychopathological symptoms in recreational ecstasy (MDMA) users are mainly associated with regular cannabis use: further evidence from a combined cross-sectional/longitudinal investigation

Daumann, Jörg; Hensen, Gernot; Thimm, Bastian; Rezk, Markus; Till, Bianca; Gouzoulis-Mayfrank, Euphrosyne

doi:10.1007/s00213-003-1719-0

Cited by 73 publications

(84 citation statements)

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“…Related to these findings, self-report personality measures have revealed elevated impulsivity and/or novelty/sensation seeking among MDMA users (e.g., Curran and Verheyden, 2003;Butler and Montgomery, 2004;Daumann et al, 2004;Gerra et al, 1998Gerra et al, , 2000Gerra et al, , 2002Morgan et al, 2002;Schifano, 2000;Tuchtenhagen et al, 2000;Verkes et al, 2001), which may also impact decision making. Although MDMA use may have led to these elevations (Morgan, 1998;Parrott et al, 2000), impulsivity and novelty/sensation seeking could be pre-existing traits among drug users (Allen et al, 1998;Conway et al, 2002;Mitchell, 1999), perhaps contributing to drug use initiation (Daumann et al, 2004;Dughiero et al, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

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Reward-related decision-making deficits and elevated impulsivity among MDMA and other drug users

Hanson

Luciana

Sullwold

2008

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

102

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Background-The recreational drug, MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine; 'Ecstasy'), is a synthetic amphetamine derivative and a serotonin neurotoxin. MDMA use is associated with cognitive dysfunction and impulsivity, but since polydrug abuse is common among users it is difficult to attribute these problems specifically to MDMA. Moreover, few studies have examined rewardrelated cognitive processes. Our aim was to examine reward-related decision-making and impulsivity among MDMA users while controlling for polydrug use via appropriate comparison groups.Methods-We examined decision-making (Iowa Gambling Task; IGT; Bechara et al., 1994), selfreported impulsivity (Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire -Brief Form [Constraint subscale]; Barratt Impulsiveness Scale; Zuckerman Sensation Seeking Scale), and drug use among 22 abstinent MDMA users, 30 other drug users, and 29 healthy non-drug controls.Results-MDMA and other drug users showed comparable patterns of decision-making and impulsivity. However, both drug groups demonstrated poorer IGT performance and elevated selfreported impulsivity relative to controls. Poorer decision-making was related to heavier drug use in the past year, heavier weekly alcohol use, and meeting lifetime substance use disorder (SUD) criteria for more drug classes. Elevated impulsivity was associated with heavier drug use, heavier weekly alcohol use, more lifetime SUDs, and higher self-reported depression levels.Conclusions-These findings contradict the idea that MDMA is specifically associated with deficient decision-making. Drug users, in general, may be at risk for decision-making deficits and elevated impulsivity. Such behaviors may represent trait factors that lead to the initiation of drug and alcohol use, and/or they may represent behavior patterns that are exacerbated by extensive use.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Although MDMA use may have led to these elevations (Morgan, 1998;Parrott et al, 2000), impulsivity and novelty/sensation seeking could be pre-existing traits among drug users (Allen et al, 1998;Conway et al, 2002;Mitchell, 1999), perhaps contributing to drug use initiation (Daumann et al, 2004;Dughiero et al, 2001). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reward-related decision-making deficits and elevated impulsivity among MDMA and other drug users

Hanson

Luciana

Sullwold

2008

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

102

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“…Many previous studies reported increased levels of depression (Sumnall and Cole, 2005), impulsivity (Morgan, 1998;Parrott et al, 2000;Tuchtenhagen et al, 2000;Daumann et al, 2001Daumann et al, , 2004bBond et al, 2004;Butler and Montgomery, 2004), and sensation/novelty seeking (Gerra et al, 1998;Tuchtenhagen et al, 2000;Schifano, 2000;Dughiero et al, 2001) in ecstasy users, although it is unclear whether these associations reflect a causal relationship, that is whether ecstasy use causes changes in mood, impulsivity, and sensation seeking or whether depression, impulsivity, and sensation seeking increase the probability of (heavy) ecstasy use (see also De Win et al, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Prospective Cohort Study on Sustained Effects of Low-Dose Ecstasy Use on the Brain in New Ecstasy Users

Win

Reneman

Jager

et al. 2006

Neuropsychopharmacol

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It is debated whether ecstasy use has neurotoxic effects on the human brain and what the effects are of a low dose of ecstasy use. We prospectively studied sustained effects (42 weeks abstinence) of a low dose of ecstasy on the brain in ecstasy-naive volunteers using a combination of advanced MR techniques and self-report questionnaires on psychopathology as part of the NeXT (Netherlands XTC Toxicity) study. Outcomes of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 1 H-MRS), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI), and questionnaires on depression, impulsivity, and sensation seeking were compared in 30 subjects (12M, 21.873.1 years) in two sessions before and after first ecstasy use (1.871.3 tablets). Interval between baseline and follow-up was on average 8.176.5 months and time between last ecstasy use and follow-up was 7.774.4 weeks. Using 1 H-MRS, no significant changes were observed in metabolite concentrations of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), myo-inositol (mI), and creatine (Cr), nor in ratios of NAA, Cho, and mI relative to Cr. However, ecstasy use was followed by a sustained 0.9% increase in fractional anisotropy (FA) in frontoparietal white matter, a 3.4% decrease in apparent diffusion (ADC) in the thalamus and a sustained decrease in relative regional cerebral blood volume (rrCBV) in the thalamus (À6.2%), dorsolateral frontal cortex (À4.0%), and superior parietal cortex (À3.0%) (all significant at po0.05, paired t-tests). After correction for multiple comparisons, only the rrCBV decrease in the dorsolateral frontal cortex remained significant. We also observed increased impulsivity ( + 3.7% on the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale) and decreased depression (À28.0% on the Beck Depression Inventory) in novel ecstasy users, although effect sizes were limited and clinical relevance questionable. As no indications were found for structural neuronal damage with the currently used techniques, our data do not support the concern that incidental ecstasy use leads to extensive axonal damage. However, sustained decreases in rrCBV and ADC values may indicate that even low ecstasy doses can induce prolonged vasoconstriction in some brain areas, although it is not known whether this effect is permanent. Additional studies are needed to replicate these findings.

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“…Indeed, Parrott et al (2001) found that the heavier the polydrug use alongside ecstasy the higher the level of self-reported psychological symptoms. Other studies have also shown that elevated psychopathology in ecstasy users appears to be associated more with polydrug use (Medina and Shear, 2007), and in some cases specifically cannabis rather than ecstasy (Daumann et al, 2001;Morgan et al, 2002;Rosier and Sahakian, 2004;Daumann et al, 2004). A possible combination effect of ecstasy and cannabis use is also supported by recent findings from Milani et al (2005), who reported that heavy cannabis use appeared to exacerbate psychobiological problems in ecstasy users, and Lamers et al (2006) who found that individuals who used both ecstasy and cannabis reported more symptoms of anxiety and depression than non-drug users and cannabis only users.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A range of measures have been used to record such psychobiological problems, including clinical measures such as the Symptom Checklist-90 (Parrott, Sisk and Turner, 2000;Parrott et al, 2001;Dugherio et al, 2001;Milani et al 2004), the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (Daumann et al, 2001(Daumann et al, & 2004Morgan et al, 2002;Thomasius et al, 2006), and specific measures of depression (MacInnes et al, 2001;de Win et al, 2006;Lamers et al, 2006) and anxiety (Lamers et al, 2006). These studies have shown that ecstasy users often demonstrate higher levels of psychopathology than non-ecstasy user control groups.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attributions for psychobiological changes in ecstasy/MDMA and other polydrug users

2008

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Ecstasy [3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)] use has been associated with a number of psychopathological problems. However, research suggests that reported symptoms might be associated more with heavy polydrug use in general rather than ecstasy per se. The current study aimed to determine the role of other drug use in reports of long-term effects by some ecstasy-polydrug users. Problematic ecstasy users ( n = 53), reporting problems which they attributed to ecstasy use, were compared with non-problematic ecstasy users ( n = 62), polydrug ( n = 62) and alcohol/nicotine using controls ( n = 111). Drug use was recorded, and positive and negative life changes were assessed along with which previous drug use, if any, they attributed these changes too. Both ecstasy groups reported higher drug use compared with polydrug controls. Polydrug and ecstasy users more often reported life changes compared with non-drug users, and ecstasy users appeared to experience more life changes than polydrug users, with problematic ecstasy users experiencing most alterations. Ecstasy users reported changes more to a combination of drugs than to one specific drug, suggesting that polydrug use in these groups has an impact on their life experiences. These findings emphasise that research into the psychological effects of ecstasy should not underestimate the role of other polydrug use.

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Self-reported psychopathological symptoms in recreational ecstasy (MDMA) users are mainly associated with regular cannabis use: further evidence from a combined cross-sectional/longitudinal investigation

Abstract: The present findings suggest that self-reported psychopathology in ecstasy users is predominantly attributable to concomitant use of cannabis. Abstinence from cannabis and not ecstasy seems to be a reliable predictor for remission of psychological complaints in ecstasy users.

Cited by 73 publications

References 32 publications

Reward-related decision-making deficits and elevated impulsivity among MDMA and other drug users

Reward-related decision-making deficits and elevated impulsivity among MDMA and other drug users

A Prospective Cohort Study on Sustained Effects of Low-Dose Ecstasy Use on the Brain in New Ecstasy Users

Attributions for psychobiological changes in ecstasy/MDMA and other polydrug users

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