Memory function and serotonin transporter promoter gene polymorphism in                 ecstasy (MDMA) users

Reneman, Liesbeth; Schilt, Thelma; Win, Maartje M. de; Booij, Jan; Schmand, Ben; Brink, Wim van den; Bakker, O.

doi:10.1177/0269881106063266

Cited by 59 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…However, in a subsequent study in which ecstasy users were found to be impaired in various aspects of memory performance, female users were not significantly more affected than male users (Reneman et al, 2006). It is also worthy of note that the gender-drug use interaction only emerged on event based PM tasks and not on the time based PM measure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Prospective memory functioning among ecstasy/polydrug users: evidence from the Cambridge Prospective Memory Test (CAMPROMPT)

et al. 2011

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Rationale: Prospective memory (PM) deficits in recreational drug users have been documented in recent years. However the assessment of PM has largely been restricted to self report measures that fail to capture the distinction between event based and time based PM.The aim of the present study is to address this limitation.Objectives: Extending our previous research we augmented the range laboratory measures of PM by employing the CAMPROMPT test battery to investigate the impact of illicit drug use on prospective remembering in a sample of cannabis only, ecstasy/polydrug and non users of illicit drugs, separating event and time based PM performance. We also administered measures of executive function and retrospective memory in order to establish whether ecstasy/polydrug deficits in PM were mediated by group differences in these processes.Results: Ecstasy/polydrug users performed significantly worse on both event and time based prospective memory tasks in comparison to both cannabis only and non user groups.Furthermore, it was found that across the whole sample, better retrospective memory and executive functioning was associated with superior PM performance. Nevertheless, this association did not mediate the drug-related effects that were observed. Consistent with our previous study, recreational use of cocaine was linked to PM deficits.Conclusions: PM deficits have again been found among ecstasy/polydrug users which appear to be unrelated to group differences in executive function and retrospective memory.However, the possibility that these are attributable to cocaine use cannot be excluded.Prospective memory (PM) involves remembering to execute a particular behaviour at some future point in time which may be in the short or long term, for example remembering to turn off the lights when leaving a room or remembering to attend a meeting, meet a friend or pass on a message. Self report measures of this construct have been developed (e.g., Crawford et al., 2005;Hannon et al., 1995) and in previous research from our laboratory, Fisk and co-workers have demonstrated apparent impairments on these measures among ecstasy/polydrug users (Montgomery & Fisk, 2007) and cannabis only users (Fisk & Montgomery, 2008). Other researchers have also reported deficits on self report PM measures among users of illicit drugs (Heffernan et al., 2001a;2001b;Rodgers et al., 2001; and studies from our own laboratory and elsewhere have revealed deficits among illicit drug users in laboratory measures of PM (Hadjiefthyvoulou et al., in press;Rendell et al., 2007a;Rendell et al., 2009).Unsurprisingly, given their role in supporting memory functions in general, evidence suggests that PM is dependent on medial temporal-hippocampal processes. For example, in a clinical group with medial temporal sclerosis, Adda et al. (2008) found that PM performance was impaired and that among those with left hemisphere lesions the degree of impairment was correlated with that in delayed (7 day) verbal recall on the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Task ...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Prospective memory functioning among ecstasy/polydrug users: evidence from the Cambridge Prospective Memory Test (CAMPROMPT)

et al. 2011

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“…A polymorphism in the 5-HT transporter promoter gene region that has been shown to regulate transporter densities in human cell lines [77] might be one such predisposing factor. Indeed, many studies have attempted to relate this polymorphism with drug abuse [78][79][80] . In 1 trial, cognitive deficits in MDMA abusers were not explained by this polymorphism, but there are no studies that have examined the role in the propensity to abuse MDMA [79] .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, many studies have attempted to relate this polymorphism with drug abuse [78][79][80] . In 1 trial, cognitive deficits in MDMA abusers were not explained by this polymorphism, but there are no studies that have examined the role in the propensity to abuse MDMA [79] . These are difficult studies to conduct in humans, but animal research would be very useful, since the acquisition and maintenance of self-administration can be easily measured in the laboratory.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

MDMA Self-Administration in Laboratory Animals: A Summary of the Literature and Proposal for Future Research

Schenk

2009

Neuropsychobiology

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The prevalence of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) use has increased globally and the pattern of consumption has changed considerably. Previously, a subculture of MDMA users was fairly restricted to the dance club scene. More recently, use has spread outside of this subculture and now many users consume MDMA frequently and in large amounts and some meet criteria for drug abuse and/or dependence. Because of confounds associated with studying drug users and abusers, animal models have been employed to investigate potential consequences of drug-taking. Among these, self-administration by laboratory animals has been shown to have excellent predictive validity. There have, however, been mixed results with respect to the ability of MDMA to support and maintain self-administration by laboratory animals. This paper reviews the literature on MDMA self-administration in laboratory primates and rodents. Most of the studies in laboratory animals suggest that only low levels of MDMA are self-administered on a daily basis but some have indicated high levels of self-administered MDMA in certain subjects. Differences might be dependent upon the number of test sessions, prior training conditions or other paradigmatic variables. In most cases, MDMA was found to be a lower efficacy reinforcer than other drugs of abuse. It is suggested that the MDMA self-administration develops following a decrease in MDMA-produced serotonin release that occurs with repeated exposure over an extended period of testing. It is hypothesized that the deficit in central serotonin increases the relative MDMA-produced dopamine responses and that this increase in the dopamine response underlies the development and maintenance of MDMA self-administration.

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“…Where no ecstasy-related WCST performance deficits were reported other drug consumption was controlled through the use of 1 or more matched control groups [26][27][28][29] . In 1 study results on the dependent variables analysed were not reported in detail [26] .…”

Section: Ecstasy and Executive Shiftingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Executive Working Memory Deficits in Abstinent Ecstasy/MDMA Users: A Critical Review

Murphy

Wareing²,

Fisk³

et al. 2009

Neuropsychobiology

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Aims: This review examined studies of executive functioning in abstinent ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA) users on tasks which had been empirically mapped onto updating, shifting, inhibition and accessing long-term memory executive processes. Studies of some aspects of visuospatial memory performance were also included because of the investment of executive resources in such tasks. Methods:Thirty-three studies were identified for the review following searches of the Psychinfo and Medline databases. Inclusion criteria were the reporting of new empirical findings from participants drug free at the time of testing, in peer-reviewed journals in the English language. Results:Evidence for ecstasy-related performance deficits was strongest for the updating of verbal material, and for visuospatial memory tasks requiring additional processing beyond storage and retrieval. Such processing suggested that the overall level of executive demand was an important consideration. Executive shifting showed little evidence of ecstasy-related impairment, whilst examination of inhibition and long-term memory access presented an unclear picture. Conclusions: All but one of the studies had a cross-sectional design. Although this is a potential weakness with regard to confounds, the necessity of such designs was acknowledged. Studies were generally aware of the need to control for potential confounds, especially the effects of other drugs, through a mixture of group designs and statistical techniques. It was recommended that future studies of executive functioning in ecstasy users should detail the relationship of the tasks and dependent variables reported to specific executive processes and consider the level of executive demand imposed by such tasks.

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Memory function and serotonin transporter promoter gene polymorphism in ecstasy (MDMA) users

Cited by 59 publications

References 62 publications

Prospective memory functioning among ecstasy/polydrug users: evidence from the Cambridge Prospective Memory Test (CAMPROMPT)

Prospective memory functioning among ecstasy/polydrug users: evidence from the Cambridge Prospective Memory Test (CAMPROMPT)

MDMA Self-Administration in Laboratory Animals: A Summary of the Literature and Proposal for Future Research

Executive Working Memory Deficits in Abstinent Ecstasy/MDMA Users: A Critical Review

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