title: Psychiatric profiles of mothers who take Ecstasy/MDMA during pregnancy: reduced depression 1 year after giving birth and quitting Ecstasy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The recreational drug MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) or 'Ecstasy' is associated with heightened psychiatric distress and feelings of depression. The Drugs and Infancy Study (DAISY) monitored the psychiatric symptom profiles of mothers who used Ecstasy/MDMA while pregnant, and followed them over the first year post-partum.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared 28 young women whom took MDMA during their pregnancy with a polydrug control group of 68 women who took other psychoactive drugs while pregnant. The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) was completed for several periods: The first trimester of pregnancy; and 1, 4 and 12 months after childbirth. Recreational drug use was monitored at each time point.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the first trimester of pregnancy, MDMA-using mothers reported higher depression scores than the polydrug controls. At 1 year after childbirth, their BSI depression scores were significantly lower, now closer to the control group values. At the same time point, their self-reported use of MDMA became nearly zero, in contrast to their continued use of Cannabis/marijuana, nicotine and alcohol. We found significant symptom reductions in those with BSI obsessive-compulsive and interpersonal sensitivity, following Ecstasy/MDMA cessation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings from this unique prospective study of young recreational drug-using mothers are consistent with previous reports of improved psychiatric health after quitting MDMA.
authors: 1University of East London, London, UK.
authors: John J D
authors: JJ
authors: Turner
authors: Andrew C
authors: AC
authors: Parrott
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Goodwin
authors: Derek G
authors: DG
authors: Moore
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Fulton
authors: Meeyoung O
authors: MO
authors: Min
authors: Lynn T
authors: LT
authors: Singer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine
keywords: Cessation; Ecstasy; MDMA; depression; drug addiction; middle class; mother; post-partum; pregnancy; quitting; recreational drugs