PMID- 17297639
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20070625
LR  - 20181113
IS  - 0033-3158 (Print)
IS  - 0033-3158 (Linking)
VI  - 191
IP  - 2
DP  - 2007 Apr
TI  - The psychotherapeutic potential of MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine): an 
      evidence-based review.
PG  - 181-93
AB  - AIMS AND RATIONALE: The purpose of this study was to review whether 
      methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has the appropriate pharmacodynamic profile 
      to be a therapeutic agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Empirical descriptions of 
      MDMA's subjective effects in humans will be reviewed to evaluate the proposal 
      that MDMA has psychotherapeutic properties. The focus will be published evidence 
      on its functional effects in therapeutic, medical, and other situations. RESULTS: 
      MDMA is a powerful central nervous system (CNS) stimulant which affects several 
      neurotransmitter systems and intensifies a range of psychobiological functions. 
      Its acute mood effects can be very positive and life enhancing, and the 
      affirmative cognitions engendered during MDMA therapy may well endure afterwards. 
      However, MDMA also has a number of potential anti-therapeutic characteristics. 
      Acutely, it can also intensify negative cognitions, and these may similarly 
      endure over time. Psychotherapists have found that setting, intention, and 
      expectancy are crucial for a positive outcome, but these factors cannot be 
      guaranteed. Post-MDMA, there is a period of neurotransmitter recovery when low 
      moods predominate, and these may exacerbate psychiatric distress. The 
      explanations proposed for MDMA-assisted therapy are all psychodynamic, and a 
      neurochemical model needs to be outlined. It has been suggested that enduring 
      therapeutic gains can follow a single session, but again, this lacks a clear 
      psychopharmacological rationale. Finally, diathesis-stress models suggest that 
      psychiatric individuals are more prone to acute and chronic abreactions to CNS 
      stimulants such as MDMA. CONCLUSIONS: There are a number of issues which need to 
      be addressed before it can be argued that MDMA might be clinically useful for 
      psychotherapy.
FAU - Parrott, A C
AU  - Parrott AC
AD  - Department of Psychology, University of Wales Swansea, Swansea, SA2 8PP, Wales, 
      UK. a.c.parrott@swansea.ac.uk
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Review
DEP - 20070213
PL  - Germany
TA  - Psychopharmacology (Berl)
JT  - Psychopharmacology
JID - 7608025
RN  - 0 (Central Nervous System Stimulants)
RN  - 0 (Hallucinogens)
RN  - 0 (Serotonin Agents)
RN  - KE1SEN21RM (N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine)
SB  - IM
MH  - Central Nervous System Stimulants/adverse effects/pharmacology/*therapeutic use
MH  - Hallucinogens/adverse effects/pharmacology/therapeutic use
MH  - Humans
MH  - Mental Disorders/*drug therapy
MH  - Models, Biological
MH  - N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine/adverse effects/pharmacology/*therapeutic 
      use
MH  - Neural Pathways/drug effects
MH  - Patient Selection
MH  - Psychotherapy/methods
MH  - Serotonin Agents/adverse effects/pharmacology/*therapeutic use
RF  - 85
EDAT- 2007/02/14 09:00
MHDA- 2007/06/26 09:00
CRDT- 2007/02/14 09:00
PHST- 2006/06/26 00:00 [received]
PHST- 2007/01/08 00:00 [accepted]
PHST- 2007/02/14 09:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2007/06/26 09:00 [medline]
PHST- 2007/02/14 09:00 [entrez]
AID - 10.1007/s00213-007-0703-5 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2007 Apr;191(2):181-93. doi: 
      10.1007/s00213-007-0703-5. Epub 2007 Feb 13.