Neurobiology and Pharmacokinets of Acute MDMA Administration
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2012-07-18
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Background:
- 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), commonly known as ecstasy, is a synthetic
psychoactive drug that has shown a steep increase in recreational use and abuse by young
people in recent years. Research studies have reported that chronic MDMA users who also
consume other legal and illegal substance show memory deficits; however, because of the
combination of drugs often involved, it is difficult to determine MDMA s contribution to
these effects.
- Only a few studies have examined the immediate physical and behavioral effects of MDMA
given at dose levels commonly used in young adults. Researchers are interested in using
functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine changes in brain activity and
function in MDMA users compared with users of other drugs and non-drug-using
individuals.
Objectives:
- To evaluate the effects of MDMA on thinking and brain function.
Eligibility:
- Individuals between 18 and 30 years of age who are (1) current users of MDMA (2), current
drug users who do not use MDMA, or (3) healthy non-drug-using volunteers.
Design:
- Participants will complete one training session and three scanning sessions.
- Before the start of the study, participants will complete questionnaires about medical
and psychological history, and provide information about past or current drug use.
Researchers will introduce the tasks to be performed during the scanning session(s), and
will allow participants to practice the tests.
- Participants will provide urine, saliva, and hair samples for testing before the start
of the study, and multiple times during each scanning session.
- Participants who use MDMA and participants who use other drugs will stay overnight at
the clinical center prior to each scanning session. Participants who do not use drugs
can spend the night prior to scanning or arrive at the clinical center on the morning of
the scanning session.
- Participants who use MDMA will receive either MDMA or a placebo during the scanning
sessions, and will not be told which one they have received. Because of the nature of
MDMA, participants will be required to stay at the clinical center until the effects of
the drug have worn off, and will be required to return to the clinical center on the
following day for a follow-up examination.
- During the study, participants will be asked to do one or more tasks selected by the
researchers. The tasks will be performed on a computer in an MRI machine, and may
involve receiving monetary rewards for actions, memory and reaction-time tests, or other
tests that involve responding to instructions on the screen.