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 safety and efficacy of ±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy in subjects with chronic, treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder: the first randomized controlled pilot study
Case reports indicate that psychiatrists administered ±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine ( MDMA ) as a catalyst to psychotherapy before recreational use of MDMA as ‘ Ecstasy ’ result ed in its criminalization in 1985 . Over two decades later , this study is the first completed clinical trial evaluating MDMA as a therapeutic adjunct . Twenty patients with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder , refractory to both psychotherapy and psychopharmacology , were r and omly assigned to psychotherapy with concomitant active drug ( n = 12 ) or inactive placebo ( n = 8) administered during two 8-h experimental psychotherapy sessions . Both groups received preparatory and follow-up non-drug psychotherapy . The primary outcome measure was the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale , administered at baseline , 4 days after each experimental session , and 2 months after the second session . Neurocognitive testing , blood pressure , and temperature monitoring were performed . After 2-month follow-up , placebo subjects were offered the option to re-enroll in the experimental procedure with open-label MDMA .  Decrease in Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale scores from baseline was significantly greater for the group that received MDMA than for the placebo group at all three time points after baseline . The rate of clinical response was 10/12 ( 83 % ) in the active treatment group versus 2/8 ( 25 % ) in the placebo group . There were no drug-related serious adverse events , adverse neurocognitive effects or clinical ly significant blood pressure increases . MDMA-assisted psychotherapy can be administered to posttraumatic stress disorder patients without evidence of harm , and it may be useful in patients refractory to other treatments
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 .