Just published, in a special issue devoted to ecstasy.
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<http://jop.sagepub.com/cgi/search?FIRSTINDEX=10&sortspec=relevance&andorexactfulltext=and&resourcetype=1&pubdate_year=2006>
Journal of Psychopharmacology, Vol. 20, No. 3, 411-416 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0269881106063265
© 2006 British Association for Psychopharmacology

Recreational ecstasy use and depression 
Casey Guillot 
Psychology Department, University of Louisiana at Lafayette,
Lafayette, LA, USA. 

David Greenway 

Research in laboratory animals has shown that
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ecstasy) destroys
serotonergic axons in the brain at certain doses. Serotonin is
known to take part in the regulation of mood in humans. Many
researchers have hypothesized that if recreational ecstasy use
destroys serotonergic axons, then a corresponding decline in the
mood of ecstasy users should be seen. The purpose of the present
study was to look at the relationship between recreational
ecstasy use and depression as measured by the Beck Depression
Inventory-II. No significant differences were found between Beck
Depression Inventory-II scores of heavy ecstasy users and
ecstasy-naive college students. No significant relationships
were found between Beck Depression Inventory-II scores and any
of the measures of ecstasy use. Most ecstasy users who had been
diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder reported that being
diagnosed preceded their use of ecstasy. 

Key Words: 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine * MDMA * ecstasy *
Beck Depression Invetory * serotonin * depression

Abstract:
<http://jop.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/20/3/411?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=10&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT>

Full Article:
<http://jop.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/20/3/411?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=10&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT>