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MDMA

The Effects of Acutely Administered 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine on Spontaneous Brain Function in Healthy Volunteers Measured with Arterial Spin Labelling and Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent Resting-State Functional Connectivity

January 10, 2014 / MDMA, Neuroscience, Papers, Psychology, Publications / By / , , , , , ,

Abstract

Background
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a potent monoamine releaser that produces an acute euphoria in most individuals.

Methods
MDMA was orally administered to 25 physically and mentally healthy individuals in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, balanced-order study. Arterial spin labelling (ASL) and seed-based resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) were used to produce spatial maps displaying changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and RSFC after MDMA. Participants underwent two ASL and two BOLD scans in a 90 minute scanning session and the MDMA and placebo study days were separated by one week.

Results
MDMA produced marked increases in positive mood. Only decreased CBF was observed after MDMA and this was localised to the right medial temporal lobe (MTL), thalamus, inferior visual cortex and the somatosensory cortex. Decreased CBF in the right amygdala and hippocampus correlated with ratings of the intensity of MDMA’s global subjective effects. The RSFC results complemented the CBF results, with decreases in RSFC between midline cortical regions, the medial prefrontal cortex and MTL regions, and increases between the amygdala and hippocampus. There were trend-level correlations between these effects and ratings of intense and positive subjective effects.

Conclusions
The MTLs appear to be specifically implicated in the mechanism of action of MDMA but further work is required to elucidate how the drug’s characteristic subjective effects arise from its modulation of spontaneous brain activity.

Carhart-Harris, R. L., Murphy, K., Leech, R., Erritzoe, D., Wall, M. B., Ferguson, B., … Nutt, D. J. (2014). The Effects of Acutely Administered 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine on Spontaneous Brain Function in Healthy Volunteers Measured with Arterial Spin Labelling and Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent Resting-State Functional Connectivity. Biological Psychiatry. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.12.015
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IJTS Special Topic Section: Ketamine ● Psychedelic Experiential Pharmacology: Pioneering Clinical Explorations with Salvador Roquet

January 1, 2014 / Humanities & Art, LSD, MDMA, Papers, Psychiatry & Medicine, Psychology, Publications, Substance Use Disorder / By /

Abstract

Richard Yensen was a research fellow at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center from 1972 to 1976. He studied psychedelic psychotherapy with Stanislav Grof, M.D. and other senior staff. During this time he treated patients with substance abuse disorders, cancer, neurosis, and other health professionals seeking a training experience. Dr. Yensen did his Ph.D. dissertation on the use of MDA in psychotherapy with neurotic outpatients and conducted his research at the MPRC. Through many years of experience in governmentsanctioned psychedelic research, he has evolved a non-drug shamanistic psychotherapy called Perceptual Affective Therapy. In the 1990’s Richard was co-holder of IND 3250, an investigational new drug permit issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to study LSD and psychotherapy until 2006. He is currently a licensed psychologist in California and director of the Orenda Institute in Vancouver and Cortes Island, British Columbia, Canada and president of the Salvador Roquet Psychosynthesis Association. He has served on the faculties of Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland Medical School in Baltimore.

Wolfson, P. E. (2015). Psychedelic Experiential Pharmacology: Pioneering Clinical Explorations with Salvador Roquet. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies.
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Help pay for MDMA PTSD research

December 6, 2021 / Anxiety Disorders / PTSD, MDMA, Publications / By

Recently, MAPS officially launched an Indiegogo campaign to help complete their crucial study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). OPEN supports MAPS in their efforts to raise both funds and awareness. Money is needed to progress vital research on these substances, while increasing awareness on the human and economic costs of PTSD can show that viable alternatives exist that can transform the lives of PTSD-sufferers.

The first published studies have shown that MDMA-assisted psychotherapy can be an effective treatment for people who did not respond to conventional therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder. MAPS’ studies are supported by the US government; their ongoing study in military veterans, firefighters, and police officers is halfway complete, and early results are promising. For some recent articles on MDMA-assisted PTSD-treatment, see here, here and here.

Donations will help pay the costs of conducting our ongoing clinical trial, a critical part of our international research program to develop MDMA-assisted psychotherapy into a prescription treatment for PTSD. Visit the Indiegogo page here,

A video-interview with one of the first subjects can be watched here:

The induction of synaesthesia with chemical agents: a systematic review

October 17, 2013 / Ayahuasca, DMT, Iboga / Ibogaine, Ketamine, LSD, MDMA, Mescaline / Cacti, Mushrooms / Psilocybin, Papers, Psychology, Publications, Salvia / Salvinorin A / By / ,

Abstract

Despite the general consensus that synaesthesia emerges at an early developmental stage and is only rarely acquired during adulthood, the transient induction of synaesthesia with chemical agents has been frequently reported in research on different psychoactive substances. Nevertheless, these effects remain poorly understood and have not been systematically incorporated. Here we review the known published studies in which chemical agents were observed to elicit synaesthesia. Across studies there is consistent evidence that serotonin agonists elicit transient experiences of synaesthesia. Despite convergent results across studies, studies investigating the induction of synaesthesia with chemical agents have numerous methodological limitations and little experimental research has been conducted. Cumulatively, these studies implicate the serotonergic system in synaesthesia and have implications for the neurochemical mechanisms underlying this phenomenon but methodological limitations in this research area preclude making firm conclusions regarding whether chemical agents can induce genuine synaesthesia.

Luke, D. P., & Terhune, D. B. (2013). The induction of synaesthesia with chemical agents: a systematic review. Frontiers in Psychology, 4, 1-11. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00753
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Pharmacological enhancement of exposure-based treatment in PTSD: a qualitative review

October 17, 2013 / Anxiety Disorders / PTSD, MDMA, Papers, Psychology, Publications / By / , ,

Abstract

There is a good amount of evidence that exposure therapy is an effective treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Notwithstanding its efficacy, there is room for improvement, since a large proportion of patients does not benefit from treatment. Recently, an interesting new direction in the improvement of exposure therapy efficacy for PTSD emerged. Basic research found evidence of the pharmacological enhancement of the underlying learning and memory processes of exposure therapy. The current review aims to give an overview of clinical studies on pharmacological enhancement of exposure-based treatment for PTSD. The working mechanisms, efficacy studies in PTSD patients, and clinical utility of four different pharmacological enhancers will be discussed: d-cycloserine, MDMA, hydrocortisone, and propranolol.

de Kleine, R. A., Rothbaum, B. O., & van Minnen, A. (2013). Pharmacological enhancement of exposure-based treatment in PTSD: a qualitative review. European Journal of Psychotraumatoly, 17(4), 1-15. http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v4i0.21626
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MDMA enhances emotional empathy and prosocial behavior

October 4, 2013 / Anxiety Disorders / PTSD, MDMA, Neuroscience, Papers, Psychology, Publications / By / , , , , , ,

Abstract

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘ecstasy’) releases serotonin and norepinephrine. MDMA is reported to produce empathogenic and prosocial feelings. It is unknown whether MDMA in fact alters empathic concern and prosocial behavior. We investigated the acute effects of MDMA using the Multifaceted Empathy Test (MET), dynamic Face Emotion Recognition Task (FERT) and Social Value Orientation (SVO) test. We also assessed effects of MDMA on plasma levels of hormones involved in social behavior using a placebo-controlled, double-blind, random-order, cross-over design in 32 healthy volunteers (16 women). MDMA enhanced explicit and implicit emotional empathy in the MET and increased prosocial behavior in the SVO test in men. MDMA did not alter cognitive empathy in the MET but impaired the identification of negative emotions, including fearful, angry and sad faces, in the FERT, particularly in women. MDMA increased plasma levels of cortisol and prolactin, which are markers of serotonergic and noradrenergic activity, and of oxytocin, which has been associated with prosocial behavior. In summary, MDMA sex-specifically altered the recognition of emotions, emotional empathy and prosociality. These effects likely enhance sociability when MDMA is used recreationally and may be useful when MDMA is administered in conjunction with psychotherapy in patients with social dysfunction or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Hysek, C. M., Schmid, Y., Simmler, L. D., Domes, G., Heinrichs, M., Eisenegger, C., … Liechti, M. E. (2013). MDMA enhances emotional empathy and prosocial behavior. Social Cognitive & Affective Neuroscience, 9(11), 1645-1652. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/scan/nst161
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Self-Medication of LSD and MDMA to Treat Mental Disorders: A Case Series

September 18, 2013 / Anxiety Disorders / PTSD, Depressive Disorders, LSD, MDMA, Papers, Psychology, Publications / By /

Abstract

50 years ago LSD was prescribed to treat a variety of mental illnesses. More recently LSD and MDMA (ecstasy) have become widely used outside medicine as both recreational drugs and by some patients as ‘self-medication’. These brief reports gather together five patients’ experiences using psychedelic drugs to treat their mental disorders. They are discussed in relation to the medical profession’s current growing interest in re-visiting psychedelic drugs as therapeutic treatments in psychiatry. The first case describes the successful self-treatment for depression using LSD, followed by a case in which doctors administered LSD in the 1960s and 1970s to successfully treat a case of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and chronic fatigue syndrome. The third and fourth cases describe the successful self-treatment of OCD using respectively MDMA and then LSD and the final case describes a self-treatment with LSD to manage Anorexia Nervosa. All the participants describing their use of these drugs give a positive report of self-treatment with minimal adverse effects. They also all support a resumption of more research into the therapeutic use of hallucinogens/psychedelic drugs as potential clinical therapies.

Sessa, B. (2010). Self-medication of LSD and MDMA to treat mental disorders: A case series. The Journal of Alternative Medicine Research, 2(2), 245-249.
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Psychedelics and Mental Health: A Population Study

August 19, 2013 / MDMA, Mescaline / Cacti, Mushrooms / Psilocybin, Papers, Psychology, Publications / By / ,

Abstract

Background
The classical serotonergic psychedelics LSD, psilocybin, mescaline are not known to cause brain damage and are regarded as non-addictive. Clinical studies do not suggest that psychedelics cause long-term mental health problems. Psychedelics have been used in the Americas for thousands of years. Over 30 million people currently living in the US have used LSD, psilocybin, or mescaline.

Objective
To evaluate the association between the lifetime use of psychedelics and current mental health in the adult population.

Method
Data drawn from years 2001 to 2004 of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health consisted of 130,152 respondents, randomly selected to be representative of the adult population in the United States. Standardized screening measures for past year mental health included serious psychological distress (K6 scale), mental health treatment (inpatient, outpatient, medication, needed but did not receive), symptoms of eight psychiatric disorders (panic disorder, major depressive episode, mania, social phobia, general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, posttraumatic stress disorder, and non-affective psychosis), and seven specific symptoms of non-affective psychosis. We calculated weighted odds ratios by multivariate logistic regression controlling for a range of sociodemographic variables, use of illicit drugs, risk taking behavior, and exposure to traumatic events.

Results
21,967 respondents (13.4% weighted) reported lifetime psychedelic use. There were no significant associations between lifetime use of any psychedelics, lifetime use of specific psychedelics (LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, peyote), or past year use of LSD and increased rate of any of the mental health outcomes. Rather, in several cases psychedelic use was associated with lower rate of mental health problems.

Conclusion
We did not find use of psychedelics to be an independent risk factor for mental health problems.

Krebs, T. S., & Johansen, P. Ø. (2013) Psychedelics and Mental Health: A Population Study. PLoS ONE, 8(8), 1-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0063972
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Effects of Schedule I drug laws on neuroscience research and treatment innovation

June 12, 2013 / Ayahuasca, DMT, LSD, MDMA, Mescaline / Cacti, Mushrooms / Psilocybin, Neuroscience, Papers, Publications, Salvia / Salvinorin A / By / , ,

Abstract

Many psychoactive drugs are used recreationally, particularly by young people. This use and its perceived dangers have led to many different classes of drugs being banned under national laws and international conventions. Indeed, the possession of cannabis, 3,4‑methylenedioxy‑N‑methylamphetamine (MDMA; also known as ecstasy) and psychedelics is stringently regulated. An important and unfortunate outcome of the controls placed on these and other psychoactive drugs is that they make research into their mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic uses — for example, in depression and post‑traumatic stress disorder — difficult and in many cases almost impossible.

Nutt, D. J., King, L. A., & Nichols, D. E. (2013). Effects of Schedule I drug laws on neuroscience research and treatment innovation. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 14, 577-585. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrn3530
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Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder: what do we know after 50 years?

March 1, 2013 / DMT, Ketamine, LSD, MDMA, Mescaline / Cacti, Mushrooms / Psilocybin, Neuroscience, Papers, Psychology, Publications, Salvia / Salvinorin A / By / ,

Abstract

‘Flashbacks’ following use of hallucinogenic drugs have been reported for decades; they are recognized in DSM-IV as ‘Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (Flashbacks)’, or HPPD. We located and analyzed 20 quantitative studies between 1955 and 2001 examining this phenomenon. However, many of these studies were performed before operational criteria for HPPD were published in DSM-III-R, so they are difficult to interpret in the light of current diagnostic criteria. Overall, current knowledge of HPPD remains very limited. In particular (1) the term ‘flashbacks’ is defined in so many ways that it is essentially valueless; (2) most studies provide too little information to judge how many cases could meet DSM-IV criteria for HPPD; and consequently (3) information about risk factors for HPPD, possible etiologic mechanisms, and potential treatment modalities must be interpreted with great caution. At present, HPPD appears to be a genuine but uncommon disorder, sometimes persisting for months or years after hallucinogen use and causing substantial morbidity. It is reported most commonly after illicit LSD use, but less commonly with LSD administered in research or treatment settings, or with use of other types of hallucinogens. There are case reports, but no randomized controlled trials, of successful treatment with neuroleptics, anticonvulsants, benzodiazepines, and clonidine. Although it may be difficult to collect large samples of HPPD cases, further studies are critically needed to augment the meager data presently available regarding the prevalence, etiology, and treatment of HPPD.

Halpern, J. H., & Harrison, G. P. Jr. (2003). Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder: what do we know after 50 years? Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 69(2), 109-119. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0376-8716(02)00306-X
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