Mental disorders in current and former heavy ecstasy (MDMA) users
Addiction July 15, 2005 Rainer Thomasius, Kay Uwe Petersen, P. Zapletalova et al. 54 citations
Current and former ecstasy users show no higher rates of most mental disorders than non-users, except for substance-related disorders. Substance-induced cognitive, affective, and anxiety disorders were more common among ecstasy users than polydrug controls. Lifetime ecstasy dependence occurred in 73% of users. Over half of former users and nearly half of current users met criteria for substance-induced cognitive disorders at testing. Higher lifetime doses of ecstasy predicted cognitive disorders. Pre-existing depression or anxiety did not explain ecstasy use, as these disorders were not more frequent in users. Cognitive problems persisting after more than five months of abstinence may result from MDMA's serotonergic neurotoxicity.