title: Equivalent effects of acute tryptophan depletion on REM sleep in ecstasy users and controls.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study sought to test the association between 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine use, serotonergic function and sleep.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ambulatory polysomnography was used to measure three nights sleep in 12 ecstasy users and 12 controls after screening (no intervention), a tryptophan-free amino acid mixture (acute tryptophan depletion (ATD)) and a tryptophan-supplemented control mixture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ATD significantly decreased rapid eye movement (REM) sleep onset latency, increased the amount of REM sleep and increased the amount of stage 2 sleep in the first 3 h of sleep. There was no difference between ecstasy users' and controls' sleep on the screening night or after ATD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings imply that the ecstasy users had not suffered significant serotonergic damage as indexed by sleep.
authors: Psychopharmacology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. r.carhart-harris@bris.ac.uk
authors: Robin L
authors: RL
authors: Carhart-Harris
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Nutt
authors: Marcus R
authors: MR
authors: Munafo
authors: David M
authors: DM
authors: Christmas
authors: Sue J
authors: SJ
authors: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000379:methods; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006213:Hallucinogens; D014364:Tryptophan; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine