J Korean Geriatr Psychiatry.  2000 Dec;4(2):194-198.

Cognitive Impairment and Flashbacks in an Abstinent Methylenedioxymethamphetamine User

• Cheon JS

Abstract

A case of methylenedioxymethamphetamine(MDMA)-dependent patient, who showed brief flashbacks, mild cognitive impairment and depression after the cessation of MDMA, were reported and its' related references were reviewed. The flashbacks were consisted of spontaneous recurrences of somatic symptoms such as tachycardia, palpitation, tremor, sweating, increased blood pressure which reflected sympathetic activation, trismus, headache, insomnia, bruxism and nightmares as well as behavioral symptoms such as aggressiveness, perceptual disturbances, paranoid ideation, feelings of closeness with others and anxiety, etc. Thereafter, mild cognitive impairments including reduced attention, concentration, visuospatial ability, uncued recall and verbal fluency were persisted with mild depression.

Keyword

Methylenedioxymethamphetamine; Flashback; Sympathetic activation; Anxiety; Cognitive impairment; Depression

MeSH Terms

Anxiety
Behavioral Symptoms
Blood Pressure
Bruxism
Depression
Dreams
Headache
Humans
Mild Cognitive Impairment
N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine*
Recurrence
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
Sweat
Sweating
Tachycardia
Tremor
Trismus
N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine