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New Findings Raise More Questions

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2001;58:907-908.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

THE ARTICLE by Reneman et al¹ in this issue of the ARCHIVES is timely and provocative and highlights several areas of controversy in the fields of substance abuse, drug-induced neurotoxic effects, and neuroimaging. The authors present evidence that the illicit recreational drug 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, or "ecstasy") may cause persistent cognitive deficits^{2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9} and that these deficits are related to the extent of previous MDMA use. Based on single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging with ¹²³I-labeled 2ß-carbomethoxy-3ß-(4-iodophenyl)tropane (ß-CIT), they conclude that MDMA causes neurotoxic injury to cortical serotonin (5-HT) axon terminals that may be reversible. This is the first study to evaluate a separate cohort of previous MDMA users who have abstained from use for longer than 1 year, and thus has the potential to provide information regarding long-term effects of exposure to MDMA.

With respect to cognitive effects of MDMA, there is some question regarding the role of concomitant marijuana use . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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