MDMA (ECSTASY) CONSUMPTION IN THE CONTEXT OF POLYDRUG ABUSE - A REPORT ON 150 PATIENTS

The present study examined the characteristics and the possible psycho pathological consequences of ecstasy (MDMA, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamph etamine) use. One hundred and fifty consecutive patients, presenting t o the Padova (Italy) Addiction Treatment Unit and who had taken ecstas y on at least one occasion, were examined and studied using a semi-str uctured interview. Ninety-five percent of the patients had experimente d with another drug of abuse at least once in their lifetime. Ecstasy was mainly self-administered at disco clubs, and reported acute psycho active effects confirmed previous reports. Fifty-three percent of the total sample were found to be affected by one or more psychopathologic al problems; the most frequent were depression, psychotic disorders, c ognitive disturbances, bulimic episodes, impulse control disorders, pa nic disorders, social phobia. Those who were free from any psychopatho logical problem, compared to the others, had taken a smaller number of MDMA tablets in their lifetime, for a shorter duration and with a low er frequency. Again, they were less likely to have used alcohol togeth er with ecstasy but more likely to have used opiates. Longer-term, lar ger dosage (acute or cumulative) MDMA consumers were found to be at hi gh risk of developing psychopathological disturbances. The results are discussed, taking into account both the ecstasy suggested serotonin ( 5-hydroxytryptamine) neurotoxicity and the various methodological issu es pertaining to this kind of large-scale clinical study describing pe ople for whom MDMA is far from being the only drug of abuse. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.