%0 Journal Article
%T Effects of ecstasy on cooperative behaviour and perception of trustworthiness: a naturalistic study
%J Journal of psychopharmacology
%D 2014
%A Stewart, L. H.
%A Ferguson, B.
%A Morgan, C. J. A.
%A Swaboda, N.
%A Jones, Loring
%A Fenton, R.
%A Wall, M. B.
%A Curran, H. V.
%V 28
%N 11
%P 1001-1008
%X BACKGROUND: Acute recreational use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; 'ecstasy') can promote pro-social effects which may alter interpersonal perceptions. AIMS: To explore such effects, this study investigated whether acute recreational use of ecstasy was associated with changes in individual perception of trustworthiness of people's faces and co-operative behaviours. <br><br>METHOD: An independent group, repeated measures design was used in which 17 ecstasy users were tested on the night of drug use (day 0) and again three days later (day 3); 22 controls were tested on parallel days. On each day, participants rated the trustworthiness of 66 faces, carried out three co-operative behaviour tasks (public good; dictator; ultimatum game) and completed mood self-ratings. <br><br>RESULTS: Acute ecstasy use was associated with increased face trustworthiness ratings and increased cooperative behaviour on the dictator and ultimatum games; on day 3 there were no group differences on any task. Self-ratings showed the standard acute ecstasy effects (euphoria, energy, jaw clenching) with negative effects (less empathy, compassion, more distrust, hostility) emerging on day 3. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Our findings of increased perceived trustworthiness and co-operative behaviours following use of ecstasy suggest that a single dose of the drug enhances aspects of empathy. This may in turn contribute to its popularity as a recreational drug and potentially to its enhancement of the therapeutic alliance in psychotherapy.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I SAGE Publishing
%@ 0269-8811
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0269881114544775