Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental
December 1, 2001
Kirstie Soar, John Turner, A. C. Parrott
80 citations
A review of psychiatric case studies from the last 10 years finds that MDMA (Ecstasy) is strongly linked to the onset of psychological disorders and persistent psychiatric symptoms. Only 24% of patients had a previous psychiatric history, and 34% had a psychiatric illness among first-degree relatives. The substantial proportion of patients without such history, along with the temporal relationship between MDMA use and recurring symptoms, suggests a causal role of the drug. Supporting evidence from non-clinical samples shows that Ecstasy users have higher scores on SCL-90 subscales compared to non-users, with heavier users showing more pathology.
Neurotoxicology and Teratology
March 5, 2012
Lynn T. Singer, David G. Moore, Sarah Fulton et al.
77 citations
MDMA (Ecstasy) use during pregnancy is linked to poorer motor quality and lower milestone attainment in infants at 4 months, with a dose-response relationship: greater exposure corresponds to worse motor outcomes. This first prospective study of prenatal MDMA exposure in humans compared 28 women who used MDMA during pregnancy with 68 polydrug-using women who did not, controlling for confounding factors. MDMA-using mothers had fewer prior births and more health, work, and social problems. Exposed infants were more likely to be male. The findings suggest risk to the developing infant and indicate that continued follow-up is needed to determine whether early motor delays persist or resolve.
Journal of Psychopharmacology
March 30, 2006
Kirstie Soar, John Turner, A. C. Parrott
65 citations
People who report problems from their ecstasy use show higher levels of psychiatric symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and somatization compared to those who use ecstasy without problems, polydrug users, and people who have never used illegal drugs. In contrast, non-problematic ecstasy users do not differ from controls on these measures. Problematic users also report greater lifetime consumption, average dosage, and binge use, and are more likely to have personal and family psychiatric histories. The findings suggest that ecstasy-related psychological problems are linked to dosage and pre-existing mental health vulnerabilities, not ecstasy use alone.
PEDIATRICS
August 21, 2012
Lynn T. Singer, David G. Moore, Meeyoung O. Min et al.
49 citations
Heavier prenatal exposure to MDMA (ecstasy) predicted poorer mental and motor development in 12-month-old infants, with motor delays appearing in a dose-dependent manner. Lighter-exposed infants were comparable to nonexposed infants. No effects were found on language, emotional regulation, or parenting stress. The study involved 96 women in the United Kingdom—28 who used MDMA during pregnancy and 68 who did not—and used standardized developmental assessments.
Neuropsychobiology
January 1, 2000
John Turner, A. C. Parrott
27 citations
Experts from diverse fields—animal neuroscience, human cognitive testing, police pathology, psychotherapy, and psychiatry—debated whether MDMA is a human neurotoxin. Some highlighted methodological weaknesses in human studies, such as uncertain tablet contents, reliance on self-reports, and confounding factors like heat, exertion, poor diet, and other drugs, which could mimic neural damage. The absence of gliosis in animal models suggested alternative interpretations for observed neural changes. Others noted no neural or behavioral change after a single dose and pointed to therapeutic benefits in supportive settings. However, novel studies across several European countries confirmed cognitive, behavioral, EEG, and neurological deficits in drug-free Ecstasy users, even after controlling for other drug use. The conclusion: if MDMA neurotoxicity is a myth, it is one with a heavy serotonergic component.