Neuropsychiatric Alterations in MDMA Users: Preliminary Findings
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences August 1, 2005 DOI: 10.1196/annals.1344.003
Summary
MDMA users exhibit significantly higher absolute delta power in their EEG readings compared to those who abuse both MDMA and marijuana, marijuana-only users, and control subjects. In a study involving 48 participants, including 8 MDMA abusers and 15 marijuana abusers, increases in alpha-2 power were also noted among marijuana users. Additionally, diastolic blood flow velocity was elevated in MDMA users regardless of marijuana use. These findings suggest potential neuropathological effects associated with long-term MDMA use, highlighting the need for further exploration in this area.
Abstract
The use of marijuana is rampant among 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) users. The co-occurrence of abuse of these two drugs has made it difficult to assess the specific residual effects of MDMA alone. As a first step toward identifying the effects of long-term MDMA use, we studied 8 MDMA abusers, 8 marijuana/MDMA abusers, 15 marijuana abusers (matched in marijuana use without MDMA use), and 17 control subjects. EEG, cerebral blood velocity by pulsed transcranial Doppler (TCD), and psychological measures were collected. Three-minute resting eyes-closed EEG recordings were obtained from 16 electrodes. The EEG was converted to 6 frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha-1, alpha-2, beta-1, and beta-2) using a fast Fourier transformation. Blood flow velocity was determined using a temporal window for the right and left middle cerebral arteries using TCD. Absolute log delta power in the EEG of MDMA abusers at central electrode sites was significantly higher than that of the MDMA/marijuana, marijuana abusers, and control subjects. There were also increases in alpha-2 EEG power observed only in marijuana abusers. The blood flow measure, diastolic velocity, was increased in MDMA abusers whether they used marijuana or not. Because increases in delta power and perfusion deficits are associated with some chronic disorders, our findings in these ecstasy abusers suggest that MDMA use may be associated with a drug-induced neuropathological state. More research is necessary to test these ideas.