Recreational ecstasy use and the neurotoxic potential of MDMA: current status of the controversy and methodological issues

被引:26
作者
Lyvers, M [1 ]
机构
[1] Bond Univ, Dept Psychol, Gold Coast, Qld 4229, Australia
关键词
cognition; ecstasy; neurotoxicity; serotonin;
D O I
10.1080/09595230600657758
中图分类号
R194 [卫生标准、卫生检查、医药管理];
学科分类号
摘要
The controversy over possible MDMA-induced serotonergic neurotoxicity in human recreational ecstasy users is examined critically in light of recent research findings. Although the designs of such studies have improved considerably since the 1990s, the evidence to date remains equivocal for a number of reasons, including ( 1) inconsistent findings on the existence and reversibility of persistent ecstasy-related serotonergic and cognitive deficits; ( 2) lack of clear association between changes in brain imaging measures and functional deficits attributed to MDMA-induced neurotoxicity; ( 3) the contribution of concomitant cannabis or other drug use to both brain imaging abnormalities and cognitive deficits; ( 4) methodological shortcomings such as failure to adequately match samples of ecstasy users and controls; ( 5) the questionable relevance of animal models of MDMA-induced neurotoxicity to typical human patterns of ecstasy use; and ( 6) the potential role of inherent pre-drug deficits in serotonergic systems, impulse control and executive cognitive function that may predispose to excessive use of drugs including ecstasy. Given the retrospective nature of nearly all studies of ecstasy users to date, the controversy over whether MDMA has ever caused neurotoxicity or cognitive deficit in human ecstasy users is likely to continue for some time without resolution.
引用
收藏
页码:269 / 276
页数:8
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