The prosocial effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): Controlled studies in humans and laboratory animals

Kamilar-Britt, Philip; Bedi, Gillinder

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.08.016

Cited by 125 publications

(138 citation statements)

References 96 publications

(242 reference statements)

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“…Previous placebo-controlled experimental studies have also shown that a single dose of MDMA can increase sociability and different aspects of empathy (Kamilar-Britt and Bedi, 2015). Behavioral tasks of empathy measure an individual’s response to faces showing a positive or negative emotional expression.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Multifaceted empathy of healthy volunteers after single doses of MDMA: A pooled sample of placebo-controlled studies

et al. 2017

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Previous placebo-controlled experimental studies have shown that a single dose of MDMA can increase emotional empathy in the multifaceted empathy test (MET) without affecting cognitive empathy. Although sufficiently powered to detect main effects of MDMA, these studies were generally underpowered to also validly assess contributions of additional parameters, such as sex, drug use history, trait empathy and MDMA or oxytocin plasma concentrations. The present study examined the robustness of the MDMA effect on empathy and investigated the moderating role of these additional parameters. Participants (n = 118) from six placebo-controlled within-subject studies and two laboratories were included in the present pooled analysis. Empathy (MET), MDMA and oxytocin plasma concentrations were assessed after oral administration of MDMA (single dose, 75 or 125 mg). Trait empathy was assessed using the interpersonal reactivity index. We confirmed that MDMA increased emotional empathy at both doses without affecting cognitive empathy. This MDMA-related increase in empathy was most pronounced during presentation of positive emotions as compared with negative emotions. MDMA-induced empathy enhancement was positively related to MDMA blood concentrations measured before the test, but independent of sex, drug use history and trait empathy. Oxytocin concentrations increased after MDMA administration but were not associated with behavioral effects. The MDMA effects on emotional empathy were stable across laboratories and doses. Sex did not play a moderating role in this effect, and oxytocin levels, trait empathy and drug use history were also unrelated. Acute drug exposure was of significant relevance in the MDMA-induced emotional empathy elevation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Multifaceted empathy of healthy volunteers after single doses of MDMA: A pooled sample of placebo-controlled studies

et al. 2017

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“…Multiple studies of social behavior in rodents after MDMA exposure have reported significant prosocial effects (Kamilar-Britt & Bedi, 2015), including decreased aggressive behavior and increased social interaction (Morley & McGregor, 2000). Some of these effects have been shown to be attenuated by pre-treatment with an oxytocin receptor antagonist (Thompson et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical applications of hallucinogens: A review.

Garcia-Romeu

Kersgaard

Addy³

2016

Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology

148

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Hallucinogens fall into several different classes, as broadly defined by pharmacological mechanism of action, and chemical structure. These include psychedelics, entactogens, dissociatives, and other atypical hallucinogens. Although these classes do not share a common primary mechanism of action, they do exhibit important similarities in their ability to occasion temporary but profound alterations of consciousness, involving acute changes in somatic, perceptual, cognitive, and affective processes. Such effects likely contribute to their recreational use. However, a growing body of evidence indicates that these drugs may have therapeutic applications beyond their potential for abuse. This review will present data on several classes of hallucinogens with a particular focus on psychedelics, entactogens, and dissociatives, for which clinical utility has been most extensively documented. Information on each class is presented in turn, tracing relevant historical insights, highlighting similarities and differences between the classes from the molecular to the behavioral level, and presenting the most up-to-date information on clinically oriented research with these substances, with important ramifications for their potential therapeutic value.

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“…First, many studies have demonstrated that MDMA produces positive, “prosocial” effects, such as the facilitation of social interaction in humans and other species (Bedi et al 2010; Hysek et al 2013; Kamilar-Britt and Bedi 2015; Kirkpatrick et al 2015; Thompson et al 2007). We reasoned that these prosocial effects might reduce the negative emotional impact of the public speaking task.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the drug may be used to cope with the psychological stress of these settings, it has been suggested that MDMA may actually increase the physiological stress response in these contexts (Parrott 2009). Several studies have investigated the effects of MDMA on responses to threatening social stimuli under controlled laboratory conditions (for reviews, see Kamilar-Britt and Bedi 2015; Bershad et al 2016). These studies show that MDMA reduces reactivity to faces expressing negative emotions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

MDMA does not alter responses to the Trier Social Stress Test in humans

2017

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Rationale ±3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “ecstasy”) is a stimulant-psychedelic drug with unique social effects. It may dampen reactivity to negative social stimuli such as social threat and rejection. Perhaps because of these effects, MDMA has shown promise as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the effect of single doses of MDMA on responses to an acute psychosocial stressor has not been tested. Objectives In this study, we sought to test the effects of MDMA on responses to stress in healthy adults using a public speaking task. We hypothesized that the drug would reduce responses to the stressful task. Methods Volunteers (N = 39) were randomly assigned to receive placebo (N = 13), 0.5 mg/kg MDMA (N = 13), or 1.0 mg/kg MDMA (N = 13) during a stress and a no-stress session. Dependent measures included subjective reports of drug effects and emotional responses to the task, as well as salivary cortisol, heart rate, and blood pressure. Results The stress task produced its expected increase in physiological responses (cortisol, heart rate) and subjective ratings of stress in all three groups, and MDMA produced its expected subjective and physiological effects. MDMA alone increased ratings of subjective stress, heart rate, and saliva cortisol concentrations, but contrary to our hypothesis, it did not moderate responses to the Trier Social Stress Test. Conclusions Despite its efficacy in PTSD and anxiety, MDMA did not reduce either the subjective or objective responses to stress in this controlled study. The conditions under which MDMA relieves responses to negative events or memories remain to be determined.

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The prosocial effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): Controlled studies in humans and laboratory animals

Cited by 125 publications

References 96 publications

Multifaceted empathy of healthy volunteers after single doses of MDMA: A pooled sample of placebo-controlled studies

Multifaceted empathy of healthy volunteers after single doses of MDMA: A pooled sample of placebo-controlled studies

Clinical applications of hallucinogens: A review.

MDMA does not alter responses to the Trier Social Stress Test in humans

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