Aggressive behaviours associated with MDMA and psychedelics: a narrative review
Acta Neuropsychiatrica February 8, 2024 Negar Sayrafizadeh, Nicole Ledwos, Muhammad Ishrat Husain et al. 3 citations
Aggression may be influenced by monoamine neurotransmitters, particularly when altered by illicit substances, but not all such substances are linked to increased aggression. This narrative review examined the associations between serotonergic psychedelics and MDMA with aggressive behavior by screening 555 articles, ultimately including 17 studies (14 on MDMA, 3 on serotonergic psychedelics). Findings were mixed: some studies indicated increased aggression following psychedelics, while others suggested protective effects. Limitations included varied definitions of psychedelics, lack of standardized outcome measures, and failure to control for confounds. Further research is needed as psychedelic studies expand.