Brain serotonin transporter binding in former users of MDMA ('ecstasy').

Selvara, Sudhakar, Hoshi, Rosa ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3367-2327, Bhagwaga, Zubin, Murthy, Naga Venkatesha, Hinz, Rainer, Cowen, Philip, Curran, H. Valerie and Grasby, Paul 2009. Brain serotonin transporter binding in former users of MDMA ('ecstasy'). British Journal of Psychiatry 194 (4) , pp. 355-359. 10.1192/bjp.bp.108.050344

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Animal experimental studies have prompted concerns that widespread use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; ‘ecstasy’) by young people may pose a major public health problem in terms of persistent serotonin neurotoxicity. AIMS: To determine the status of brain serotonin neurons in a group of abstinent MDMA users. METHOD: We assessed the integrity of brain serotonin neurons by measuring serotonin transporter (SERT) binding using positron emission tomography (PET) and [11C]DASB in 12 former MDMA users, 9 polydrug users who had never taken MDMA and 19 controls who reported no history of illicit drug use. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the binding potential of [11C]DASB between the groups in any of the brain regions examined. CONCLUSIONS: To the extent that [11C]DASB binding provides an index of the integrity of serotonin neurons, our findings suggest that MDMA use may not result in long-term damage to serotonin neurons when used recreationally in humans.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Psychology
Publisher:	Royal College of Psychiatrists
ISSN:	0007-1250
Last Modified:	19 Oct 2022 13:30
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/152177

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