Executive function in abstinent MDMA ('ecstasy') users.
BACKGROUND
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, or 'Ecstasy') is a growingly popular recreational drug of abuse that is known to damage brain serotonergic neurons in animals and possibly humans. Few functional consequences of MDMA-induced serotonin neurotoxicity have been identified, either in animals or humans. This study sought to determine whether individuals with a history of MDMA use showed evidence of executive dysfunction.


METHODS
Two groups of young individuals were compared: 24 abstinent MDMA users who had taken MDMA at least once and 24 controls who had never taken MDMA. Each MDMA user completed a questionnaire regarding the characteristics of their MDMA use and all participants completed a questionnaire regarding other recreational drug experience. The Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS) was used to measure executive function in all participants.


RESULTS
Evidence of impairment was found on two subtests of the BADS and in terms of a Total Profile Score. In addition, several significant product moment correlations were found suggesting that increases in MDMA consumption may relate to more pronounced impairment in executive function.


CONCLUSIONS
Accordingly, MDMA use may be associated with deficits in executive function.
Zakzanis
K K
KK
Division of Life Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. zakzanis@utsc.utoronto.ca
Young
D A
DA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine