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Psychiatria Danubina, Vol. 25 No. 2, 2013.

Short communication, Note

CHANGE IN FREQUENCY OF ACUTE AND SUBACUTE EFFECTS OF ECSTASY IN A GROUP OF NOVICE USERS AFTER 6 MONTHS OF REGULAR USE

Maedeh Raznahan ; Psychiatric Research Centre, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Elmira Hassanzadeh ; Psychiatric Research Centre, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Arezou Houshmand ; Psychiatric Research Centre, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Ladan Kashani ; Infertility ward, Arash Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mina Tabrizi ; Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Shahin Akhondzadeh orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-2277-5101 ; Psychiatric Research Centre, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

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Abstract

Background: Recent research trends are to specify the relation between patterns of ecstasy use and side effects, possibility of
dependency, tolerance and long term neurocognitive damage. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of regular ecstasy
use on its acute and subacute effects.
Subjects and methods: At the first stage, we recruited 120 subjects. If participants continued regular use of ecstasy in this
period, they were asked to participate in the second stage of the research 6 months later. Thirty-five subjects attended the second
stage of the study, 5 of which were excluded because they had less than 5 drug experiences during the last 6 months. At last, we
recruited 30 novice ecstasy users by means of the snowball technique in Tehran, Iran. The pattern of use and experienced effects of
ecstasy was documented at the beginning and after 6 months of regular consumption with a self administered questionnaire.
Results: Little or no change was observed in acute effects. Those subacute effects that had considerable increase in frequency
were anxiety, depression, aggression, memory impairment, poor concentration and learning problems.
Conclusion: Small change in acute effects suggests low possibility of tolerance after at least 6 months of regular use. Our results
support long term neurocognitive damage and mood impairment with ecstasy use.

Keywords

acute effects – ecstasy - regular use - subacute effects

Hrčak ID:

161177

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/161177

Publication date:

10.6.2013.

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