title: Recreational 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) or 'ecstasy' and self-focused compassion: Preliminary steps in the development of a therapeutic psychopharmacology of contemplative practices.
abstract: 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) produces diverse pro-social effects. Cognitive training methods rooted in Eastern contemplative practices also produce these effects through the development of a compassionate mindset. Given this similarity, we propose that one potential mechanism of action of MDMA in psychotherapy is through enhancing effects on intrapersonal attitudes (i.e. pro-social attitudes towards the self). We provide a preliminary test of this idea. Recreational MDMA (ecstasy) users were tested on two occasions, having consumed or not consumed ecstasy. Self-critical and self-compassionate responses to self-threatening scenarios were assessed before (T1) and after (T2) ecstasy use (or non-use), and then after compassionate imagery (T3). Moderating roles of dispositional self-criticism and avoidant attachment were examined. Separately, compassionate imagery and ecstasy produced similar sociotropic effects, as well as increases in self-compassion and reductions in self-criticism. Higher attachment-related avoidance was associated with additive effects of compassionate imagery and ecstasy on self-compassion. Findings were in line with MDMA's neuropharmacological profile, its phenomenological effects and its proposed adjunctive use in psychotherapy. However, although conditions were balanced, the experiment was non-blind and MDMA dose/purity was not determined. Controlled studies with pharmaceutically pure MDMA are still needed to test these effects rigorously.
authors.affiliation: Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK sunjeev.kamboj@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Sunjeev K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kamboj
authors.affiliation: Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Emma J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kilford
authors.affiliation: Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minchin
authors.affiliation: Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.affiliation: Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Will
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lawn
authors.affiliation: Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Ravi K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Caroline J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Falconer
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Research Unit, University of Derby, Derby, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.affiliation: Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: H Valerie
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Curran
authors.affiliation: Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Tom P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Freeman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D004645:Empathy / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011600:Psychopharmacology / Q000379:methods; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D006213:Hallucinogens; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine
keywords: MDMA; compassion; compassion-focused therapy; psychotherapy; self-criticism