Ecstasy use and self-reported depression, impulsivity, and sensation seeking: a prospective cohort study

Abstract

Although there are indications that ecstasy users have higher levels of depression, impulsivity, and sensation seeking, it is unknown whether these are consequences of ecstasy use or predisposing factors for starting ecstasy use. We prospectively assessed the predictive value of depression, impulsivity, and sensation seeking on future first time ecstasy use. We also assessed whether depression, impulsivity, and sensation seeking had changed after first ecstasy use. Depression, impulsivity, and sensation seeking were assessed using self-report questionnaires in 188 ecstasy-naive volunteers with high probability for future ecstasy use. After a mean follow-up of 17 months, measurements were repeated in 59 incident ecstasy users (mean 6.0 tablets) and 61 matched persistent ecstasy-naive volunteers. Only experience seeking (subscale of the sensation seeking scale) predicted future ecstasy use (OR -- 1.05, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.10), but after adjustment for potential confounders this was not significant anymore. At follow-up, significant effects of ecstasy use on the general and the disinhibition subscale of the sensation seeking scale were observed (after adjustment for potential confounders: regression coefficient B 0.51, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.83 and B -- 3.25, 95% CI 1.74 to 4.76, respectively). These data indicate that depression, impulsivity, and sensation seeking do not predict first time ecstasy use in a population of young adults with the intention to start using ecstasy and that low level ecstasy use does not seem to cause depression or impulsivity. However, low level ecstasy use may increase (certain aspects of) sensation seeking.

Pathways to ecstasy use in young adults: Anxiety, depression or behavioural deviance?

“…Our findings are consistent with two small scale longitudinal studies ([de Win et al, 2006] and [de Win et al, 2007]), where no association was found between common mental health disorders and later ecstasy use. There is a range of reasons why our results might differ from those of others.…”

“…The few longitudinal studies that have assessed the nature of the relationship between common mental health disorders and ecstasy use have yielded inconsistent results ([de Win et al, 2006], [Huizink et al, 2006] and [Lieb et al, 2002b]). Two small sample size studies found no relationship ([de Win et al, 2006] and [de Win et al, 2007]), whereas two larger scale longitudinal studies found that anxiety and depression preceded ecstasy use disorders in early adulthood ( [Huizink et al, 2006] and [Lieb et al, 2002b]). …”

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

“…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).…”

MDMA (Ecstasy) use and psychiatric problems

“…In addition, Huizink et al (2006) found that childhood anxiety and depression scores predicted later Ecstasy use. It should be noted, however, that one study did not find an association between baseline depression scores and future Ecstasy use (de Win et al 2006).…”