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

Bibliographic Data

ID14676339
AuthorsCasey Guillot, Casey R Guillot (0000-0002-9038-1606, University of Southern Mississippi, corresponding author)
Year2007
Volume39
Issue1
Pages31-39
Publication date2007-03-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Psychoactive Drugs (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0279-1072 • E-ISSN: 2159-9777
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/02791072.2007.10399862
PMID17523583
OpenAlexW1980500034
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited72

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

Cannabis · Cognition · Depressive symptoms · Ecstasy · Hallucinogen · MDMA · Mood · Psychiatry · Serotonergic · Serotonin · Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research · Clinical Psychology · Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis · Medicine · Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior · Psychology · Internal Medicine

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