title: Interactions between specific parameters of MDMA use and cognitive and psychopathological measures.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the relevance of different parameters of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) use, including age of first use, cumulative lifetime dose and highest daily dose for predicting cognitive performance and self-reported psychopathology. Moreover, interactions between those parameters were examined. Ninety-six new MDMA users were interviewed to assess their drug use, and they completed a battery of cognitive tests concerning attention and information processing speed, episodic memory and executive functioning and self-reported psychopathology. Subjects participated again after 1year to provide follow-up data. Significant associations between age of first use and cumulative lifetime dose have been found for attention and information processing speed. Furthermore, the results showed a significant effect of age of first use on the recognition performance of the episodic memory. The findings of the current study provide a first estimation of the interactions between different MDMA use parameters. Future research should focus upon additional parameters of drug use and concentrate on consequent follow-up effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Kerpener Strasse 62, Cologne 50924, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Kerpener Strasse 62, Cologne 50924, Germany.
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adolph
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Kerpener Strasse 62, Cologne 50924, Germany.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koester
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Kerpener Strasse 62, Cologne 50924, Germany.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Kerpener Strasse 62, Cologne 50924, Germany.
authors.forename: Euphrosyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gouzoulis-Mayfrank
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Kerpener Strasse 62, Cologne 50924, Germany. Electronic address: joerg.daumann@uk-koeln.de.
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Daumann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004522:Educational Status; D056344:Executive Function / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006213:Hallucinogens; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine
keywords: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine; Attention; Information processing; MDMA; Memory; Neuropsychology