Thus , the current state of research does not allow for the conclusion that long-term use of MDMA affects decision-making behavior in general .
Different cognitive impairments have been reported as a result of long-term MDMA/ecstasy use .
Increased impulsivity and altered decision-making have been shown to be associated with the development and maintenance of addictive disorders pointing toward the necessity to underst and a potential impairment of decision-making due to MDMA use .
Thus , assessing the long-term effects of MDMA is crucial in order to evaluate its controversially discussed therapeutic use .
The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the scientific literature on potential effects of chronic MDMA use on higher order decision-making processes in humans .
The Netherlands XTC Toxicity (NeXT) study: objectives and methods of a study investigating causality, course, and clinical relevance.
This paper describes the objectives and methods of The Netherl and s XTC Toxicity ( NeXT ) study focussing on the causality , course , and clinical relevance of ecstasy neurotoxicity . Previous studies suggest that ecstasy ( 3,4 methylene-dioxymethamphetamine , MDMA , XTC ) is toxic toward brain serotonin axons , but most of these studies have serious method ological limitations . The current study is a combination of different approaches with three sub studies : ( 1 ) a crosssectional sub study among heavy ecstasy users and controls with variation in drug use , which will provide information about potential neurotoxic consequences of ecstasy in relation to other drugs ; ( 2 ) a prospect i ve cohort sub study in ecstasy-naive subjects with high risk for future ecstasy use , which will provide information on the causality and short-term course of ecstasy use and potential neurotoxicity , and ( 3 ) a retrospective cohort sub study in lifetime ecstasy users and matched controls of an existing epidemiological sample that will provide information on long-term course and outcome of ecstasy use in the general population . Neurotoxicity is studied using ( a ) different imaging techniques ( beta-CIT SPECT , 1H-MR spectroscopy , diffusion tensor imaging , perfusion weighted imaging and functional magnetic resonance imaging ) , and ( b ) neuropsychological and psychiatric assessment s of memory , depression , and personality . The combined results will lead to conclusions that can be used in prevention messages , clinical decision making , and the development of an (inter)national ecstasy policy
Thus , the current state of research does not allow for the conclusion that long-term use of MDMA affects decision-making behavior in general .
Different cognitive impairments have been reported as a result of long-term MDMA/ecstasy use .
Increased impulsivity and altered decision-making have been shown to be associated with the development and maintenance of addictive disorders pointing toward the necessity to underst and a potential impairment of decision-making due to MDMA use .
Thus , assessing the long-term effects of MDMA is crucial in order to evaluate its controversially discussed therapeutic use .
The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the scientific literature on potential effects of chronic MDMA use on higher order decision-making processes in humans .