This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (20) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Sumnall, H. R. Articles by Cole, J. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sumnall, H. R. Articles by Cole, J. C. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Self-reported depressive symptomatology in community samples of polysubstance misusers who report Ecstasy use: a meta-analysis

Centre for Public Health, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK, h.sumnall{at}livjm.ac.uk

Jon C. Cole

Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK

National drugs information strategies convey the message that use of Ecstasy is associated with an increase in both the incidence and severity of major depressive disorder. However, very little primary research supports this. Unlike apparent deficits in higher cognitive functions, most published studies have found no difference in self-reported depressive symptomatology between Ecstasy users and controls. To investigate this further, we conducted a meta-analysis of studies investigating depressive symptomatology in recreational users of Ecstasy. According to selection criteria, we identified 25 relevant studies. A statistically significant effect size (ES) of 0.31 (95% confidence interval 0.17-0.37, p< 0.001) was calculated. Significance remained after examining the small number of studies that controlled for cannabis use (n = 9, p< 0.001) but, in general, drug histories were poorly reported. There was an association between ES and lifetime Ecstasy exposure (p< 0.001), but not for other use parameters or abstention (p> 0.05). These data indicate that there is an association between Ecstasy use and depressive symptomatology, but this is small and unlikely to be clinically relevant. In addition, the self-report scales used may be heavily confounded by the somatic effects of substance misuse. Public health strategies derived from psychopharmacological investigations should acknowledge the potential negative effects of substance misuse but qualify the difficulties in interpreting research studies.

Key Words: depression • Ecstasy • meta-analysis • review • substance misuse

Journal of Psychopharmacology, Vol. 19, No. 1, 84-92 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/0269881105048901


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. Schilt, M. M. L. de Win, M. Koeter, G. Jager, D. J. Korf, W. van den Brink, and B. Schmand Cognition in Novice Ecstasy Users With Minimal Exposure to Other Drugs: A Prospective Cohort Study Arch Gen Psychiatry, June 1, 2007; 64(6): 728 - 736. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]