title: Change in frequency of acute and subacute effects of ecstasy in a group of novice users after 6 months of regular use.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent research trends are to specify the relation between patterns of ecstasy use and side effects, possibility of dependency, tolerance and long term neurocognitive damage. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of regular ecstasy use on its acute and subacute effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  At the first stage, we recruited 120 subjects. If participants continued regular use of ecstasy in this period, they were asked to participate in the second stage of the research 6 months later. Thirty-five subjects attended the second stage of the study, 5 of which were excluded because they had less than 5 drug experiences during the last 6 months. At last, we recruited 30 novice ecstasy users by means of the snowball technique in Tehran, Iran. The pattern of use and experienced effects of ecstasy was documented at the beginning and after 6 months of regular consumption with a self administered questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Little or no change was observed in acute effects. Those subacute effects that had considerable increase in frequency were anxiety, depression, aggression, memory impairment, poor concentration and learning problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Small change in acute effects suggests low possibility of tolerance after at least 6 months of regular use. Our results support long term neurocognitive damage and mood impairment with ecstasy use.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, South Kargar Street, 13337 Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maedeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raznahan
authors.forename: Elmira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hassanzadeh
authors.forename: Arezou
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Houshmand
authors.forename: Ladan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kashani
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tabrizi
authors.forename: Shahin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akhondzadeh
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs