Journal of Psychopharmacology
May 18, 2015
Sunjeev K. Kamboj, Emma J. Kilford, Stephanie Minchin et al.
43 citations
MDMA (ecstasy) and compassionate imagery both increase self-compassion and reduce self-criticism in recreational users. In a non-blind experiment, participants who consumed ecstasy showed similar pro-social effects to those produced by a contemplative compassion exercise, particularly in those with higher attachment-related avoidance. The findings suggest MDMA may enhance psychotherapy by fostering compassionate attitudes toward oneself. However, because the study was not blinded and drug purity was unknown, controlled trials with pharmaceutical-grade MDMA are needed to confirm these effects.
Mindfulness
November 4, 2017
Sunjeev K. Kamboj, Ylva Walldén, Caroline J. Falconer et al.
27 citations
In a naturalistic setting, recreational users who consumed chemically verified MDMA performed a self-focused compassionate imagery exercise on two separate occasions: once after taking MDMA and once without. The exercise and MDMA each independently increased emotional empathy toward critical facial expressions and self-compassion, and their effects on self-compassion appeared to add together. The findings suggest that combining MDMA with compassionate imagery may enhance self-directed affiliative feelings, though controlled studies are needed to confirm the combined utility for therapeutic contexts.
Journal of Psychopharmacology
August 5, 2020
Will Lawn, J. P. Hill, Chandni Hindocha et al.
23 citations
A single 600 mg oral dose of cannabidiol did not alter brain activity related to anticipating or receiving rewards in healthy adults. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging during a monetary incentive delay task, the expected reward-related brain regions—including the insula, caudate, nucleus accumbens, anterior cingulate, and orbitofrontal cortex—were activated, but no difference was observed between cannabidiol and placebo. Bayesian analyses confirmed that activity in these regions was similar under both conditions, and behavioral measures of motivation for reward also showed no significant difference. The findings suggest that acute cannabidiol does not affect the neural correlates of reward anticipation or feedback in healthy individuals.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
January 19, 2023
Koen Ponnet, Bert Hauspie, Nicky Dirkx et al.
21 citations
Attendees of electronic dance music events are a high-risk group for substance use. A survey of 1345 Belgian attendees found that ecstasy/MDMA/Molly (52.28%), other synthetic hallucinogens (53.68%), ketamine (42.13%), amphetamines (40.45%), and alkyl nitrites (32.76%) were most used at festivals, outdoor parties, and raves. Cocaine was prevalent in nightclubs (32.29%), while cannabis (68.88%) and magic mushrooms (66.44%) were most used at private events. Overall enjoyment was the key motive for attendance, followed by music and socialization. Users rated many motives (dance, exploration, escapism, excitement, alcohol, drugs) as more important than non-users. Substance use prevalence depended on the event setting, and a three-dimensional classification of attendance motives was supported.