MDMA is one of the most widely abused drugs by adolescents and young adults. Recent studies suggest widespread MDMA dependence, with up to 48% of users diagnosed as dependent. These studies suggest that day-to-day problems relating to MDMA abuse and dependence may be more severe and prevalent than previously believed. Yet MDMA dependence has not been fully characterized, with signs, symptoms, risk and protective factors, and the natural history of MDMA dependence remaining largely unknown. Retrospective reports document high rates of appaxent withdrawal symptoms in MDMA users. It remains to be determined the extent to which symptoms are due to other drugs, sequelae of activities undertaken while under the influence of MDMA, reemergence of preexisting conditions, or represent a true MDMA discontinuation syndrome. We propose a series of controlled inpatient trials to characterize MDMA dependence and the MDMA-specific discontinuation syndrome. In the first experiment, MDMA users (80 dependent and 80 nondependent) will be hospitnlized and given placebo or a single nontoxic dose of MDMA in order to elicit a discontinuation syndrome. In the second experiment, 40 hospitalized dependent MDMA users will be given placebo or a single nontoxic dose of MDMA to relieve withdrawal following illicit use of MDMA. Stir-report, observer-rated, physiological, neurocognitive, hormonal, and behavioral measures will be made. Addiction to MDMA appears to be a serious risk of use; our studies will carefttlly define important clinical features of this emerging disorder.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA017716-03
Application #
7222720
Study Section
Neural Basis of Psychopathology, Addictions and Sleep Disorders Study Section (NPAS)
Program Officer
Nemeth-Coslett, Rosemarie V
Project Start
2005-07-01
Project End
2009-04-30
Budget Start
2007-05-01
Budget End
2008-04-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$449,003
Indirect Cost
Name
California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
071882724
City
San Francisco
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94107
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Kirkpatrick, Matthew G; Baggott, Matthew J; Mendelson, John E et al. (2014) MDMA effects consistent across laboratories. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 231:3899-905
Nedelkov, Dobrin; Nelson, Randall W (2003) Delineating protein-protein interactions via biomolecular interaction analysis-mass spectrometry. J Mol Recognit 16:9-14