Mood Fluctuation and Psychobiological Instability: The Same Core Functions Are Disrupted by Novel Psychoactive Substances and Established Recreational Drugs

Summary

All psychoactive drugs, both older (cocaine, nicotine, cannabis) and newer (MDMA, mephedrone, spice), damage well-being through similar psychobiological mechanisms. They disrupt core functions such as mood regulation, causing users to feel better on-drug and worse off-drug, with the strength of these mood fluctuations linked to addiction potential. Cyclical changes also affect information processing, psychomotor speed, homeostatic balance, HPA axis, sleep, brain rhythms, and neurocognition, increasing psychiatric vulnerability.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Many novel psychoactive substances (NPS) have entered the recreational drug scene in recent years, yet the problems they cause are similar to those found with established drugs. This article will debate the psychobiological effects of these newer and more traditional substances. It will show how they disrupt the same core psychobiological functions, so damaging well-being in similar ways. Every psychoactive drug causes mood states to fluctuate. Users feel better on-drug, then feel worse off-drug. The strength of these mood fluctuations is closely related to their addiction potential. Cyclical changes can occur with many other core psychobiological functions, such as information processing and psychomotor speed. Hence the list of drug-related impairments can include: homeostatic imbalance, HPA axis disruption, increased stress, altered sleep patterns, neurohormonal changes, modified brain rhythms, neurocognitive impairments, and greater psychiatric vulnerability. Similar patterns of deficit are found with older drugs such as cocaine, nicotine and cannabis, and newer substances such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), mephedrone and spice. All psychoactive drugs damage human well-being through similar basic neuropsychobiological mechanisms.