Is Recreational Ecstasy (MDMA) Use Associated with Higher Levels of Depressive Symptoms?

Recreational use of MDMA (Ecstasy) may be linked to long-term mood problems due to its effects on serotonin. This review of 22 studies found that only three showed significantly higher depression scores in Ecstasy users compared to people who used cannabis or other drugs. Most studies had methodological flaws, and depression levels in Ecstasy users were not much higher than in the general population. The evidence for a specific link between Ecstasy use and depression is unconvincing, but using Ecstasy along with other illicit drugs is associated with higher depression. Possible causes include polydrug use, MDMA's effects on serotonin, other drugs' individual effects, combined drug effects, and preexisting depression differences.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Due to potential serotonergic deficits, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or Ecstasy) may cause long-term mood disruptions in recreational Ecstasy users. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the evidence for a relationship between recreational Ecstasy use and higher levels of depressive symptoms. Eleven out of 22 studies initially have reported significantly higher depression scores in Ecstasy users in comparison to control participants. However, only three studies ultimately have revealed significantly higher depression scores in comparison to cannabis or polydrug controls. Furthermore, most studies have suffered from methodological weaknesses, and the levels of depressive symptoms that have been found in Ecstasy users have not been shown to be much higher than those found in normative groups. The evidence for an association specifically between Ecstasy use and higher levels of depressive symptoms is currently unconvincing, but the frequent concomitant use of Ecstasy and other illicit drugs has been shown to be associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms. Possible causes include polydrug use in general, MDMA-induced serotonergic deficits, individual effects of illicit drugs besides Ecstasy, combined effects of MDMA and other illicit drugs, and preexisting differences in the levels of depressive symptoms in Ecstasy users.