Chronic MDMA (ecstasy) use, cognition and mood

McCardle, Kylie; Luebbers, Stefan; Carter, James D.; Croft, Rodney J.; Stough, Con

doi:10.1007/s00213-004-1791-0

Cited by 147 publications

(143 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…The atypical profile in heavy users also contributed to a significant between group difference in terms of total secretion of cortisol across the day (F (2,49) = 3.54, p = 0.04) characterised by greater secretion in heavy versus light users (p = 0.04). Table 3 The observed increases in psychological distress support previous studies reporting increased anxiety, depression and stress in ecstasy users (McCardle et al, 2004;Rodgers et al, 2006;Scholey et al, 2011). More specifically, these findings replicate earlier reports of elevated levels of anxiety and depression in the period following awakening .…”

Section: Diurnal Cortisolsupporting

confidence: 83%

Basal functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and psychological distress in recreational ecstasy polydrug users

Wetherell

Montgomery

2013

Psychopharmacology

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Rationale: Ecstasy (MDMA) is a psychostimulant drug which is increasingly associated with psychobiological dysfunction. While some recent studies suggest acute changes in neuroendocrine function, less is known about long term changes in HPA functionality in recreational users. Objectives:The current study is the first to explore the effects of ecstasy-polydrug use on psychological distress and basal functioning of the HPA axis through assessing the secretion of cortisol across the diurnal period.Method: Seventy-six participants (21 nonusers, 29 light ecstasy-polydrug users 26 heavy ecstasypolydrug users) completed a substance use inventory and measures of psychological distress at baseline, then two consecutive days of cortisol sampling (on awakening, 30 minutes post awakening, between 1400-1600hrs and pre bed time). On day two, participants also attended the laboratory to complete a 20-minute multitasking stressor.Results: Both user groups exhibited significantly greater levels of anxiety and depression than nonusers. On day one, all participants exhibited a typical cortisol profile, though light users had significantly elevated levels pre-bed. On day two, heavy users demonstrated elevated levels upon awakening and all ecstasy-polydrug users demonstrated elevated pre-bed levels compared to nonusers. Significant between group differences were also observed in afternoon cortisol levels and in overall cortisol secretion across the day. Conclusions:The increases in anxiety and depression are in line with previous observations in recreational ecstasy-polydrug users. Dysregulated diurnal cortisol may be indicative of inappropriate anticipation of forthcoming demands and hypersecretion may lead to the increased psychological and physical morbidity associated with heavy recreational use of ecstasy.

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Section: Diurnal Cortisolsupporting

confidence: 83%

Basal functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and psychological distress in recreational ecstasy polydrug users

Wetherell

Montgomery

2013

Psychopharmacology

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“…MDMA abusers have neuropsychiatric deficits including memory impairments (McCardle et al, 2004;Wareing et al, 2007). Recent studies suggest that this neuropsychiatric deficit persists after the cessation of abuse (Ward et al, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Cannabinoid CB1 Receptor Antagonist Ameliorates Impairment of Recognition Memory on Withdrawal from MDMA (Ecstasy)

Nawata

Hiranita

Yamamoto

2009

Neuropsychopharmacol

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( + /À)-3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'Ecstasy') abusers have persistent neuropsychiatric deficits including memory impairments after the cessation of abuse. On the other hand, cannabinoid CB 1 receptors have been implicated in learning/memory, and are highly expressed in the hippocampus, a region of the brain believed to have an important function in certain forms of learning and memory. In this study, we clarified the mechanism underlying the cognitive impairment that develops during MDMA withdrawal from the standpoint of the cannabinoid CB 1 receptors. Mice were administered MDMA (10 mg/kg, i.p.) once a day for 7 days. On the 7th day of withdrawal, a novel object recognition task was performed and the amount of cannabinoid CB 1 receptor protein was measured with western blotting. Recognition performance was impaired on the 7th day of withdrawal. This impairment was blocked by AM251, a cannabinoid CB 1 receptor antagonist, administered 30 min before the training trial or co-administered with MDMA. At this time, the level of cannabinoid CB 1 receptor protein increased significantly in the hippocampus but not the prefrontal cortex or striatum. This increase of CB 1 receptor protein in the hippocampus was also blocked by the co-administration of AM251. Furthermore, CB 1 receptor knockout mice showed no impairment of recognition performance on the withdrawal from MDMA. The impairment of recognition memory during withdrawal from MDMA may result from the activation of cannabinoid CB 1 receptors in the hippocampus.

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“…Equally it appears that tests sensitive to the shifting and inhibition elements do not appear to be as consistently susceptible to the effects of ecstasy (e.g. Fox et al, 2001;Fox et al, 2002;Godolphin & Parrot, 1999, cited in Parrot, 2000Gouzoulis-Mayfrank et al, 2000;McCardle et al, 2004;Thomasius et al, 2003; but also see von Geusau et al 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The differential effects of ecstasy/polydrug use on executive components: shifting, inhibition, updating and access to semantic memory

et al. 2005

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Rationale/Objectives: Recent theoretical models suggest that the central executive may not be a unified structure. The present study explored the nature of central executive deficits in ecstasy users. Methods: In Study One, 27 ecstasy users and 34 nonusers were assessed using tasks to tap memory updating (computation span; letter updating) and access to long-term memory (a semantic fluency test and the Chicago word fluency test). In Study Two, 51 ecstasy users and 42 nonusers completed tasks that assess mental set switching (number/letter and plus/minus) and inhibition (random letter generation). Results: MANOVA revealed that ecstasy users performed worse on both tasks used to assess memory updating, and on tasks to assess access to long-term memory (C-and S-letter fluency). However, notwithstanding the significant ecstasy-group related effects, indices of cocaine and cannabis use were also significantly correlated with most of the executive measures. Unexpectedly, in Study Two, ecstasy users performed significantly better on the inhibition task producing more letters than nonusers. No group differences were observed on the switching tasks. Correlations between indices of ecstasy use and number of letters produced were significant. Conclusions: The present study provides further support for ecstasy/polydrug related deficits in memory updating and in access to long-term memory. The surplus evident on the inhibition task should be treated with some caution as this was limited to a single measure and has not been supported by our previous work.

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Chronic MDMA (ecstasy) use, cognition and mood

Abstract: These results suggest that MDMA users exhibit difficulties in coding information into long-term memory, display impaired verbal learning, are more easily distracted, and are less efficient at focusing attention on complex tasks.

Cited by 147 publications

References 27 publications

Basal functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and psychological distress in recreational ecstasy polydrug users

Basal functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and psychological distress in recreational ecstasy polydrug users

A Cannabinoid CB1 Receptor Antagonist Ameliorates Impairment of Recognition Memory on Withdrawal from MDMA (Ecstasy)

The differential effects of ecstasy/polydrug use on executive components: shifting, inhibition, updating and access to semantic memory

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