MDMA("Ecstasy")-Konsum - ein Überblick zu psychiatrischen und medizinischen Folgen

Use of MDMA ('Ecstasy') has sharply increased, with changes in the drug scene inside and outside Europe. For some users, Ecstasy leads to abuse of other illegal substances. Since the mid-1980s, at least 48 cases of psychiatric complications have been reported, including acute complications that resolve with intoxication, toxic psychoses, and long-term conditions such as atypical and paranoid psychoses, depression, panic disorders, depersonalization, and behavioral disorders. Convulsive seizures are common central nervous system problems; cerebrovascular accidents and intracranial hemorrhages have also occurred. At least 53 cases of medical complications in MDMA abusers have been reported, 14 of them fatal. Large-scale prospective epidemiological and clinical studies are still lacking.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Epidemiological research and Substance Abuse Warning Systems point to a sharp increase in the use of "Ecstasy" (MDMA), as well as to structural changes in the drug scene in and outside Europe. For some consumers, "Ecstasy" opens the door to the abuse of other illegal substances. Since the mid-eighties psychiatric complications and consequences of the abuse of MDMA have been reported in at least 48 cases. It is necessary to differentiate between acute psychiatric complications, which subside completely when the level of intoxication comes down, toxic psychoses and long-term psychiatric diseases as a consequence of substance abuse. The latter involve atypical and paranoid psychoses, depressions, panic disorders, depersonalisation and behavioural disorders. Convulsive seizures are among the most common problems involving the central nervous system. Furthermore, there have been reports on cerebrovascular accidents and intracranial haemorrhages. Literature reports on at least 53 cases of medical complications in abusers of MDMA, 14 of which came to a lethal end. Research still blatantly lacks prospective epidemiological and clinical studies on a sufficiently large scale to identify different developments of dependency and predictors of harmful and unhealthy consumption.