Skip to content
2000
Volume 4, Issue 2
  • ISSN: 1573-4005
  • E-ISSN: 1875-6441

Abstract

The illicit drug 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; Ecstasy) has been shown to cause long-term serotonin (5-HT) deficits in rodents and non-human primates, and based on the results of brain imaging studies in frequent Ecstasy users, it appears that MDMA has the potential to affect the human brain in much the same way. Because the 5-HT system is known to take part in the regulation of impulsivity, it has been hypothesized that increased impulsivity may be one of the consequences of MDMA exposure seen in Ecstasy users. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the evidence for a relationship between Ecstasy use and higher levels of impulsivity. Cross-sectional studies that used measures of impulsivity to compare abstinent Ecstasy users to non-users will be summarized, and longitudinal studies that attempted to find changes in impulsivity in Ecstasy users will be examined. In closing, the overall evidence for an association between Ecstasy use and higher levels of impulsivity will be evaluated, and potential explanations for this association will be discussed.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/cpsr/10.2174/157340008784529322
2008-05-01
2025-05-22
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/content/journals/cpsr/10.2174/157340008784529322
Loading

  • Article Type:
    Research Article
Keyword(s): disinhibition; Ecstasy; impulsivity; inhibition; MDMA; serotonin
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error
Please enter a valid_number test