The effects of MDMA on socio-emotional processing: Does MDMA differ from other stimulants?

Bershad, Anya K.; Miller, Melissa A.; Baggott, Matthew J.; Wit, Harriet de

doi:10.1177/0269881116663120

Cited by 88 publications

(107 citation statements)

References 118 publications

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“…Both the psychoactive (including the entactogenic and nootropic properties) and the adverse effects being here described are consistent with 4,4′‐DMAR being a phenethylamine or MDMAlike compound (Bershad, Miller, Baggott, & DeWit, ; Iversen et al, ; Miliano et al, ; Schifano et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

4,4′‐Dimethylaminorex (“4,4′‐DMAR”; “Serotoni”) misuse: A Web‐based study

Loi

Zloh

Luca

et al. 2017

Human Psychopharmacology

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Background 4,4′‐DMAR (4,4′‐dimethylaminorex; “Serotoni”) is a potent stimulant drug that has recently been associated with a number of fatalities in Europe. Over the last few years, online communities have emerged as important resources for disseminating levels of technical knowledge on novel psychoactive substances. Objective Analysing the information provided by the fora communities on 4,4′‐DMAR use, additionally critical reviewing the available evidence‐based literature on this topic. Methods Different website drug fora were identified. A critical review of the existing evidence‐based literature was undertaken. Individuation and analysis of qualitative data from the identified website fora were performed. Results The combined search results identified six website fora from which a range of qualitative data on recurring themes was collected. These themes included routes of administration and doses; desired effects; adverse effects; comparison with other drugs; association with other drugs; medications self‐administered to reverse 4,4′‐DMAR action; overall impression; and provision of harm‐reduction advice. Conclusions Although being characterized by a number of methodological limitations, the social networks' Web monitoring approach (netnography) may be helpful to better understand some of the clinical and psychopharmacological issues pertaining to a range of novel psychoactive substances, including 4,4′‐DMAR, for which only extremely little, if any, scientific knowledge is available.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

4,4′‐Dimethylaminorex (“4,4′‐DMAR”; “Serotoni”) misuse: A Web‐based study

Loi

Zloh

Luca

et al. 2017

Human Psychopharmacology

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“…Domes et al reported increased attention bias to positive stimuli but no effects on negative stimuli, whereas Kim et al (2014) reported reduced attention toward negative expressions with no effect on positive expressions. It has been been suggested that MDMA produces prosocial effects by altering oxytocinergic signaling (Thompson et al, 2007), and in line with the effects of oxytocin on attention bias, we hypothesized that if MDMA is modifying attention through an oxytocinergic mechanism, then MDMA, but not MA (Bershad et al, 2016a), would positively bias visual attention.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…In humans the drug increases self-report ratings of sociability and friendliness (Bedi et al, 2010;Bedi et al, 2009;Harris et al, 2002), as well as feelings of "trust," "openness," and "closeness with others" . Notably, the effects of MDMA are distinct from the effects of other pharmacologically related psychostimulant drugs (Bershad et al, 2016a). To understand the psychological processes, and ultimately the neurobiological processes, that produce these distinctive social effects of MDMA, we and others have investigated the influence of the drug on standardized behavioral tasks believed to model aspects of social behavior (for reviews see Bershad et al, 2016a;Kamilar-Britt and Bedi, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of MDMA on attention to positive social cues and pleasantness of affective touch

Bershad

Mayo

Hedger³

et al. 2019

Neuropsychopharmacol.

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Effects of MDMA on attention to positive social cues and pleasantness of affective touch. http://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/10667/ Article LJMU has developed LJMU Research Online for users to access the research output of the University more effectively. AbstractThe psychostimulant drug ± 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) reportedly produces distinctive feelings of empathy and closeness with others. MDMA increases social behavior in animal models and has shown promise in psychiatric disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). How it produces these prosocial effects is not known. This behavioral and psychophysiological study examined the effects of MDMA, compared to the prototypical stimulant methamphetamine (MA), on two measures of social behavior in healthy young adults: i) responses to socially relevant, "affective" touch, and ii) visual attention to emotional faces. Men and women (N=36) attended four sessions in which they received MDMA (0.75 or 1.5mg/kg), MA (20mg), or a placebo in randomized order under double-blind conditions. Responses to experienced and observed affective touch (i.e., being touched or watching others being touched) were assessed using facial electromyography (EMG), a proxy of affective state. Responses to emotional faces were assessed using electrooculography (EOG) in a measure of attentional bias. Subjective ratings were also included. We hypothesized that MDMA, but not MA, would enhance ratings of pleasantness and psychophysiological responses to affective touch and increase attentional bias toward positive facial expressions. Consistent with this, we found that MDMA, but not MA, selectively enhanced ratings of pleasantness of experienced affective touch. Neither drug altered ratings of pleasantness of observed touch. On the EOG measure of attentional bias, MDMA, but not MA, increased attention toward happy faces. These results provide new evidence that MDMA can enhance the experience of positive social interactions; in this case pleasantness of physical touch and attentional bias toward positive facial expressions. The findings are consistent with evidence that the prosocial effects are unique to MDMA relative to another stimulant. Understanding the

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“…Users report that it enhances feelings of empathy and social closeness, and controlled studies indicate that it dampens both behavioral and neural reactivity to negative social stimuli such as social threat and rejection (Bedi et al 2009; Bershad et al 2016; Frye et al 2014; Hysek et al 2012; Kirkpatrick et al 2012; Wardle and de Wit 2014). Interestingly, the drug is used recreationally in high-intensity social settings that may be physiologically stressful (Curran 2000; Parrott 2001, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the drug may be used to cope with the psychological stress of these settings, it has been suggested that MDMA may actually increase the physiological stress response in these contexts (Parrott 2009). Several studies have investigated the effects of MDMA on responses to threatening social stimuli under controlled laboratory conditions (for reviews, see Kamilar-Britt and Bedi 2015; Bershad et al 2016). These studies show that MDMA reduces reactivity to faces expressing negative emotions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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The effects of MDMA on socio-emotional processing: Does MDMA differ from other stimulants?

Cited by 88 publications

References 118 publications

4,4′‐Dimethylaminorex (“4,4′‐DMAR”; “Serotoni”) misuse: A Web‐based study

4,4′‐Dimethylaminorex (“4,4′‐DMAR”; “Serotoni”) misuse: A Web‐based study

Effects of MDMA on attention to positive social cues and pleasantness of affective touch

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

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