Recreational Use of “Ecstasy” (MDMA) Is Associated with Elevated Impulsivity

Morgan, M.

doi:10.1016/s0893-133x(98)00012-8

Cited by 260 publications

(288 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…However, by way of mitigation, it is noteworthy that most of the published studies that have probed cognitive deficits among ecstasy users have not resorted to urine, hair, or saliva testing (e.g., Fox et al, 2002;Morgan, 1998;Morgan, 1999;Parrott & Lasky, 1998;Rodgers, 2000). The importance of not over generalising from the present findings must also be stressed.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 82%

The effects of concurrent cannabis use among ecstasy users: neuroprotective or neurotoxic?

Fisk

Montgomery

Wareing

et al. 2006

Human Psychopharmacology

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Edge Hill College of Higher EducationRunning head: concurrent cannabis use among ecstasy users. The research evidence regarding the potential effects of ecstasy suggests that it may be neurotoxic and that its use is associated with cognitive impairment. In recent years evidence has emerged suggesting that cannabinoids, the active ingredients in cannabis, can be neuroprotective under certain conditions. Given that many ecstasy users also consume cannabis at the same time, the possibility emerges that these individuals might be less susceptible to ecstasy-related impairment. The present paper reanalyses the data from a number of previous studies, contrasting the performance of those individuals who generally consume cannabis and ecstasy at the same time with those who generally consume ecstasy on its own. The two ecstasy-using groups are compared with non-ecstasy users on a range of measures including processing speed, random letter generation, verbal and visuo-spatial working memory span, reasoning and associative learning. The two ecstasy user groups did not differ significantly from each other on any of the measures. Both user groups were significantly worse than non-ecstasy users on measures of associative learning, verbal and visuo-spatial working memory, and reasoning. The results suggest that consuming cannabis at the same time as ecstasy does not reduce the likelihood of cognitive impairment.There is abundant evidence that ecstasy (MDMA) is neurotoxic, disrupting serotonergic systems in diverse brain regions. There is also a considerable body of evidence that cannabis can have neuroprotective as well as neurotoxic properties.Given that most ecstasy users are also cannabis users (Morgan, 2000) the question arises as to whether concurrent use of cannabis by ecstasy users might make them less susceptible to MDMA related neurotoxicity. The present paper is intended to investigate this issue.Although there is abundant evidence that MDMA is neurotoxic in a range of animal species, evidence of neurotoxicity in humans is less extensive and sometimes controversial (Curran, 2000). A review of the neuroimaging evidence can be found in Reneman et al (2006). A number of studies have found evidence of neurotoxicity among ecstasy users. For example, using PET neuroimaging, McCann, et al (1998), investigated 5-HT neural damage in the brains of ecstasy users. Regions of interest included the frontal cortex, pariental cortex, temporal cortex, occipital cortex and cingulate cortex, as well as the caudate, putamen, thalamus, mid-brain, pons, hypothalamus and cerebellum. The results showed that, compared to a control group, ecstasy users had significantly lower densities of 5HT transporter sites in all brain regions. Further, the reductions observed were correlated with the extent of ecstasy use. Reneman, et al (2002a) also assessed neural injury in ecstasy users using single-voxel (1H) MR spectroscopy imagining. N-Acetylasportate (NAA)/Creatine (CR), NAA Choline (CHO), and Myoinositol (MI) CR ratios in ecstasy users were meas...

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 82%

The effects of concurrent cannabis use among ecstasy users: neuroprotective or neurotoxic?

Fisk

Montgomery

Wareing

et al. 2006

Human Psychopharmacology

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“…Other studies have also relied on self-report measures of ecstasy use (e.g. Fox et al 2002;Morgan 1998;Morgan 1999;Rodgers 2000). Nonetheless while the questionnaire we used has numerous checks for internal consistency and while we have no reason to doubt the responses of our participants, it would have been more desirable to supplement the self reports with objective measures of recent use (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self reported sleep quality and cognitive performance in ecstasy users

Montgomery

Fisk

Wareing

et al. 2007

Human Psychopharmacology

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Objectives: Research suggests that ecstasy users exhibit psychobiological changes relative to nonusers such as altered sleep patterns and cognitive deficits. In turn, it has been suggested that sleep quality may be a mediator of such cognitive deficits in ecstasy users. The present study sought to investigate this proposed relationship.Methods: Aspects of cognitive functioning in 104 ecstasy users and 103 nonusers obtained from our previous studies were reanalysed to explore the extent to which ecstasy-related group differences were attributable to differences in sleep quality.Cognitive function was assessed via the computation span test, consonant updating, paired associate learning, syllogistic reasoning and word fluency. Sleep quality was measured via the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS). Results: Ecstasy users performed worse than nonusers on all cognitive measures. While no differences were observed on the ESS, ecstasy users reported greater tiredness at the beginning of testing than nonusers. When the sleep variables were included as covariates, the effects of ecstasy on all cognitive measures remained significant. Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest little evidence for the mediating effects of sleep on cognitive function in ecstasy users.

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“…Studies that have examined the effect of MDMA on impulsivity in abstinent MDMA users have provided conflicting results. McCann et al (1994) reported a decrement in impulsivity ratings of MDMA users as measured by the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire, whereas others reported elevated scores of impulsivity in heavy MDMA users, using different subjective measures of impulsivity (Butler and Montgomery, 2004;Morgan, 1998Morgan, , 2000Parrott, 2000). Elevated levels of impulsiveness have been associated with lower levels of 5HT and CSF-5HIA (Linnoila et al, 1983(Linnoila et al, , 1993 and with dopaminergic activation in the prefrontal cortex leading to a reduction in 'inhibitory control' over behavioral functions (Jentsch and Taylor, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Heavy MDMA users produced more commission errors in a go/no-go task and made more risky choices in a gambling task (Butler and Montgomery, 2004) when compared to nondrug users. In addition, current and former MDMA users produced faster responses and more incorrect choices in a matching familiar figures test designed to measure reflection-impulsiveness (Morgan, 1998). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acute Effects of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on Behavioral Measures of Impulsivity: Alone and in Combination with Alcohol

Ramaekers

Kuypers

2005

Neuropsychopharmacol

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The use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has frequently been associated with increased levels of impulsivity during abstinence. The effects of MDMA on measures of impulsivity, however, have not yet been studied during intoxication. The present study was designed to assess the acute effects of MDMA and alcohol, alone and in combination, on behavioral measures of impulsivity and risktaking behavior. A total of 18 recreational users of MDMA entered a double-blind placebo-controlled six-way crossover study. The treatments consisted of MDMA 0, 75, and 100 mg with and without alcohol. Alcohol dosing was designed to achieve a peak blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of about 0.06 g/dl during laboratory testing. Laboratory tests of impulsivity were conducted between 1.5 and 2 h post-MDMA and included a stop-signal task, a go/no-go task, and the Iowa gambling task. MDMA decreased stop reaction time in the stop-signal task indicating increased impulse control. Alcohol increased the proportion of commission errors in the stop-signal task and the go/no-go task. Signal detection analyses of alcohol-induced commission errors indicated that this effect may reflect impairment of perceptual or attentive processing rather than an increase of motor impulsivity per se. Performance in the Iowa gambling task was not affected by MDMA and alcohol, but there was a nonsignificant tendency towards improvement following alcohol intake. None of the behavioral measures of impulsivity showed a MDMA Â alcohol interaction effect. The lack of interaction indicated that the CNS stimulant effects of MDMA were never sufficient to overcome alcohol-induced impairment of impulse control or risk-taking behavior.

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Recreational Use of “Ecstasy” (MDMA) Is Associated with Elevated Impulsivity

Abstract: Recent preclinical evidence suggests that repeated exposure to 3, "ecstasy")

Cited by 260 publications

References 26 publications

The effects of concurrent cannabis use among ecstasy users: neuroprotective or neurotoxic?

The effects of concurrent cannabis use among ecstasy users: neuroprotective or neurotoxic?

Self reported sleep quality and cognitive performance in ecstasy users

Acute Effects of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on Behavioral Measures of Impulsivity: Alone and in Combination with Alcohol

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