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CLINICAL STUDY: BRIEF REPORT: Ecstasy (MDMA)‐addicted subjects show increased serum levels of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor, independently from a rise of drug‐induced psychotic symptoms

The recreational drug ‘ecstasy’[3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)] exerts a potent action on central serotonergic and dopaminergic neurons. These neurons utilize neurotrophins for their survival and function. In order to explore MDMA effects on neurotrophins, we measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay the serum levels of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in ‘ecstasy‐addicted’, ‘ecstasy‐addicted with signs of psychosis’ and ‘healthy’ subjects. We found that BDNF serum levels were significantly increased in both groups of ‘ecstasy‐addicted’ as compared with ‘healthy subjects’, supporting the hypothesis that BDNF is involved in MDMA action.