MDMA users have more empathy than other drug users

New research suggests that long – term MDMA users show more empathy than cannabis and other drug users.

Scientists at Exeter University compared the empathy levels of 25 people who used multiple drugs, including MDMA, 19 people who used multiple without MDMA, and 23 who consumed only alcohol.

MDMA users reported feeling a lot more empathy – and were more apt to identify the emotions of others in front of a computer task – than multiple drug users, without MDMA. Other drugs were cannabis , cocaine and ketamine.

MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also known as ecstasy) is known to increase empathy for a short time, and these findings on long-term effects could have implications for uses. medical possibilities.

MDMA is a banned Clbad A drug in the United Kingdom and is currently licensed for medical purposes.

Lead author Molly Carlyle, from the University of Exeter, said: "We have recruited long-term but light users (at least 10 times) to reflect doses that can be used for medical purposes. ,

"It has been suggested that MDMA, combined with therapy, could be an effective treatment for psychological trauma and alcoholism, but it has already been suggested that MDMA may cause increased social distress." Our results indicate that this is not the case in our study, MDMA users were better able to understand the emotions of others and had better emotional empathy than other drug users, and at a level similar to those who only drink alcohol. "

The 67 participants in the study completed a questionnaire about their own empathy and took computerized tasks in which they had to identify the emotions on the faces of others. They also indicated how emotionally they felt when they saw others in emotional states.

The researchers wanted to measure both cognitive empathy (ability to understand the emotions of others) and emotional empathy (experiencing emotions due to the emotions of others).

The study says:

• MDMA users reported feeling more emotional empathy and computer tasks revealed greater cognitive empathy compared to people using multiple drugs without MDMA (there was little difference between the MDMA group and the exclusively alcoholic group)
• All participants showed decreases in mood and self esteem in response to social exclusion, but there was no difference between the three groups.
• Levels of empathy and social pain among MDMA users were consistent with "normal psychosocial functioning".

The results contradict earlier suggestions that long-term use of MDMA could lead to increased social distress.

Professor Celia Morgan, lead author of the research, said, "Our study suggests that moderate use of MDMA is not badociated with any social functioning issues, it seems to make people more empathic than drug users who do not do it ". t use MDMA, suggesting better empathy compared to alcohol consumers.

"We can not say whether the differences in empathy are due to taking MDMA, or whether there were already differences between people who use MDMA and those who do not do it before starting to But most importantly, this study suggests that MDMA can safely be used as a treatment with no side effects on these crucial social processes. "