Recreational 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) or ‘ecstasy’ and self-focused compassion: Preliminary steps in the development of a therapeutic psychopharmacology of contemplative practices
Authors
Kamboj, Sunjeev KKilford, Emma J.
Minchin, Stephanie
Moss, Abigail
Lawn, Will
Das, Ravi K.
Falconer, Caroline J.
Gilbert, Paul

Curran, H Valerie
Freeman, Tom P.
Issue Date
2015-05-18
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Show full item recordAbstract
3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) produces diverse pro-social effects. Cognitive training methods rooted in Eastern contemplative practices also produce these effects through the development of a compassionate mindset. Given this similarity, we propose that one potential mechanism of action of MDMA in psychotherapy is through enhancing effects on intrapersonal attitudes (i.e. pro-social attitudes towards the self). We provide a preliminary test of this idea. Recreational MDMA (ecstasy)-users were tested on two occasions, having consumed or not consumed ecstasy. Selfcritical and self-compassionate responses to self-threatening scenarios were assessed before (T1) and after (T2) ecstasyuse (or no use), and then after compassionate imagery (T3). Moderating roles of dispositional self-criticism and avoidant attachment were examined. Separately, compassionate imagery and ecstasy produced similar sociotropic effects as well as increases and reductions in self-compassion and self-criticism respectively. Higher attachment-related avoidance was associated with additive effects of compassionate imagery and ecstasy on self-compassion. Findings were in line with MDMA’s neuropharmacological profile, its phenomenological effects and proposed adjunctive use in psychotherapy. However, although conditions were balanced, the experiment was non-blind and MDMA dose/purity was not determined. Controlled studies with pharmaceutically pure MDMA are still needed to test these effects rigorously.Citation
Kamboj, S. K. et al (2015) 'Recreational 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) or ‘ecstasy’ and self-focused compassion: Preliminary steps in the development of a therapeutic psychopharmacology of contemplative practices', Journal of Psychopharmacology, 29 (9):961Publisher
SageJournal
Journal of PsychopharmacologyDOI
10.1177/0269881115587143Additional Links
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0269881115587143Type
ArticleLanguage
enISSN
02698811EISSN
14617285ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1177/0269881115587143
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