TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2014//
TI  - Effects of ecstasy on cooperative behaviour and perception of trustworthiness: a naturalistic study
JO  - Journal of psychopharmacology
A1  - Stewart, L. H.
A1  - Ferguson, B.
A1  - Morgan, C. J. A.
A1  - Swaboda, N.
A1  - Jones, Loring
A1  - Fenton, R.
A1  - Wall, M. B.
A1  - Curran, H. V.
SP  - 1001
EP  - 1008
VL  - 28
IS  - 11
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 0269-8811
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0269881114544775
ID  - ref1
ER  -