An investigation into the sub-acute effects of ecstasy on aggressive interpretative bias and aggressive mood – are there gender differences?

Abstract

The lowering of serotonin for a period following MDMA use could account for the increases in both self-rated and objective measures of aggression previously found in ecstasy users several days after taking the drug. There is some evidence of gender differences in the acute, sub-acute and long-term effects of MDMA use, and given that gender differences have been found in aggression, it is possible that men may experience more aggression mid-week than women. The aim of this study was to attempt to replicate findings showing increased bias towards aggressive material in ecstasy users several days after using the drug. In addition, to investigate possible gender differences in mid-week aggression. A total of 46 participants were tested: 19 ecstasy users and 27 controls were compared on the night of drug use and 4 days later. On day 4, a task designed to tap cognitive bias toward material with aggressive content was administered. Participants were required to process sentences that could be interpreted as either aggressive or neutral and subsequently remember them in a recognition test. This data set was then combined with the data from Curran et al.'s (2004) study that employed exactly the same procedure. Thus, the data from 107 participants was analysed to investigate gender differences. Ecstasy users recognized more aggressive sentences than controls and tended to react slower to neutral sentences than controls. Ecstasy users also rated themselves as being more aggressive and depressed than controls on day 4. No gender differences were found on any measure of aggression in the combined data set. Both male and female ecstasy users show a bias toward interpretation of ambiguous material in an aggressive manner when compared to controls 4 days after ecstasy use.

MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) or ecstasy: the contemporary human and animal research perspective

“…Somewhat surprisingly, the cognitive sequelae of acute MDMA have not been thoroughly studied, although its acute psychophysiological effects are well documented in the review by Dumont and Verkes (2006). Inappropriate vasopressin secretion has been demonstrated during the acute MDMA phase (Wolff et al, 2006), while a greater tendency towards aggressive responding can occur during the comedown period (Hoshi et al, 2006). Yet despite the frequent demonstration of neurocognitive and other psychobiological deficits, on many assessment measures, performance levels remain unimpaired, even in heavy users (Fox et al, 2001).…”

Ecstasy versus alcohol: Tolstoy and the variations of unhappiness

“…In a prospective investigation of young recreational ecstasy users, Curran et al (2004) reported a significant increase in aggressive feelings, and behavioural indices of aggressiveness, 4 days after recreational MDMA, with values returning to baseline after 7 days. In an extension of the study, this significant increase in mid-week Table 1 Some of the harmful psychobiological changes associated with recreational Ecstasy/MDMA Car driving impairments Brookhuis et al, 2004;Logan andCouper, 2001 Behavioural Aggression Curran et al, 2004;Gerra et al, 2001;Hoshi et al, 2006Liver damage Montiel-Duarte et al, 2002Maurer et al, 2004;Smith et al, 2005Cardiac damage Gesi et al, 2002Setola et al, 2003Neurotoxicity Reneman et al, 2006Easton and Marsden, 2006;Thomasius et al, 2006 Memory- Zhou et al, 2003Death Schifano et al, 2006 aggression was found to occur in both females and males (Hoshi et al, 2006). Depression was also significantly increased, while other mid-week rebound/recovery problems include unsociability, reduced appetite and poor sleep (reviews: Parrott, 2001Parrott, , 2006a.…”

The association between the negative effects attributed to ecstasy use and measures of cognition and mood among users.

“…Ecstasy users were also found to be significantly more depressed compared to controls in a study by McCardle, Luebbers, and Carter (2004) and more recently, Lamers, Bechara, and Rizzo (2006) found that relative to cannabis only and drug naïve controls, ecstasy/polydrug users were significantly more depressed and exhibited higher levels of anxiety. Finally, Curran, Rees, and Hoare (2004) and Hoshi, Pratt, and Mehta (2006) found that ecstasy users were more likely to attribute aggressive meanings to ambiguous sentences compared to nonusers.Relatively few studies have examined the mediating role of psychological affect in underpinning ecstasy-related cognitive deficits. McCardle et al (2004) found that ecstasy-related deficits in recall remained statistically significant following statistical controls for group differences in depression.…”