Differences Between the Mechanism of Action of MDMA, MBDB, and the Classic Hallucinogens. Identification of a New Therapeutic Class: Entactogens
This seminal paper (1986) introduces the classification 'entactogens' for MDMA and compounds with similar psychopharmacological action.
Authors
- David Nichols
Published
Abstract
From the introduction: Nearly 70 years after its first synthesis, 3.4 -methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) was rediscovered. Although it had its more recent origin in the class of drugs that is generally defined as psychedelic or hallucinogenic, it clearly appears different from LSD. In humans. MDMA induces a state of reduced anxiety and lowered defensiveness that makes it attractive to therapists wishing to speed up the therapeutic process. However, as with all substances that produce pleasurable effects, it soon became popular as a recreational drug, and it went the same way as the psychedelics: into Schedule I.
Research Summary of 'Differences Between the Mechanism of Action of MDMA, MBDB, and the Classic Hallucinogens. Identification of a New Therapeutic Class: Entactogens'
Introduction
Earlier decades' interest in psychedelic drugs such as LSD prompted both heavy regulation and continued informal use, and a later rediscovery of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) raised questions about how some newer compounds fit existing pharmacological categories. Ande Rson and colleagues note that MDMA and related substituted amphetamines (for example MDA) produce subjective effects—reduced anxiety, lowered defensiveness, enhanced affect and empathy—that differ qualitatively from the classic sensory and perceptual disruptions of serotonergic hallucinogens such as LSD or DOM. This apparent mismatch between subjective human effects, structure-activity expectations for substituted amphetamines, and emerging biochemical data motivated a re-evaluation of how these compounds should be classified. The study sets out to test the hypothesis that MDMA and structurally related molecules (notably MBDB) are mechanistically distinct from both classic hallucinogens and conventional stimulants, and thus merit recognition as a separate pharmacological class. To address this, the researchers combined structure–activity reasoning with biochemical assays (release and reuptake measurements in synaptosomal preparations), stereoisomer comparisons, and behavioural pharmacology in animals, supplemented by preliminary human observations of subjective effects. The overall aim was to characterise mechanisms of action that could explain the unique clinical and experiential profile and to propose an appropriate taxonomic label for the class.
Expert Research Summaries
Go Pro to access AI-powered section-by-section summaries, editorial takes, and the full research toolkit.
Study Details
- Study Typemeta
- Journal
- Compound
- Topics
- Author
- APA Citation
Nichols, D. E. (1986). Differences Between the Mechanism of Action of MDMA, MBDB, and the Classic Hallucinogens. Identification of a New Therapeutic Class: Entactogens. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 18(4), 305-313. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.1986.10472362
Cited By (49)
Papers in Blossom that reference this study
O'Donnell, K., Okano, L., Alpert, M. et al. · Frontiers in Psychology (2024)
Heifets, B. D., Olson, D. E. · Neuropsychopharmacology (2023)
Lima da Cruz, R. V., Leão, R. N., Moulin, T. C. · Biorxiv (2023)
Traynor, J. M., Roberts, D. E., Ross, S. et al. · Focus (2022)
Barone, W., Mitsunaga-Whitten, M., Blaustein, L. O. et al. · Frontiers in Psychiatry (2022)
Stoliker, D., Egan, G. F., Friston, K. J. et al. · Pharmacological Reviews (2022)
Henningfield, J. E., Coe, M. A., Griffiths, R. R. et al. · Neuropharmacology (2022)
Belser, A. B. · Frontiers in Psychology (2022)
Sharp, J. L., Smith, M. A. · Frontiers in Behavioural Neuroscience (2022)
Pantoni, M. M., Kim, J. L., Van Alstyne, K. R. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2022)
Show all 49 papersShow fewer
Kermanian, F., Seghatoleslam, M., Mahakizadeh, S. · Neurochemistry International (2022)
Torregrossa, M. M., Lu, J., Lukasiewicz, K. et al. · Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience (2021)
Studerus, E., Vizeli, P., Harder, S. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2021)
Nichols, D. E., Walter, H. · Pharmacopsychiatry (2020)
Hibicke, M., Gobbi, G. · Journal of Neuroscience (2020)
Holze, F., Vizeli, P., Müller, F. et al. · Neuropsychopharmacology (2019)
Dipasquale, O., Selvaggi, P., Veronese, M. et al. · NeuroImage (2019)
Mithoefer, M. C., Feduccia, A. A., Jerome, L. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2019)
Baggott, M. J., Garrison, K. J., Coyle, J. R. et al. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2019)
Danforth, A. L. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2019)
Martial, C., Cassol, H., Charland-Verville, V, Erowid, E. et al. · Consciousness and Cognition (2019)
Richards, W. A., Garcia-Romeu, A. · International Review of Psychiatry (2018)
Zamberlan, F., Sanz, C., Pallavicini, C. et al. · Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience (2018)
Dunlap, L. E., Andrews, A. M. · ACS Chemical Neuroscience (2018)
Cassels, B. K., Sáez-Briones, P. · ACS Chemical Neuroscience (2018)
Walsh, Z., Bird, B. M., Lafrance, A. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2018)
Maqueda, A. E. · Plant Medicines Healing and Psychedelic Science (2018)
Sanz, C., Zamberlan, F., Erowid, E. et al. · Frontiers in Neuroscience (2018)
Phelps, J. · Journal of Humanistic Psychology (2017)
Forstmann, M., Sagioglou, C. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2017)
Walpola, I. C., Nest, T., Leor, R. et al. · Neuropsychopharmacology (2017)
Aarde, S. M., Taffe, M. A. · Neuropharmacology (2016)
Bershad, A. K., Miller, M. A., Baggot, M. J. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2016)
Garcia-Romeu, A., Kersgaard, B., Addy, P. H. · Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology (2016)
Passie, T., Benzenhöfer, U. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2016)
Danforth, A. L., Struble, C., Yazar-Klosinski, B. et al. · Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry (2016)
Mueller, F., Lenz, C., Steiner, M. et al. · Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews (2015)
Tupper, K. W., Wood, E., Yensen, R. et al. · Canadian Medical Association Journal (2015)
Baggot, M. J., Coyle, J. R., Siegrist, J. D. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2015)
Baggot, M. J., Kirkpatrick, M. G., Bedi, G. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2015)
Majic, T., Schmidt, T. T., Gallinat, J. · Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology (2015)
González, D., Torrens, M., Farré, M. · BioMed Research International (2015)
Páleníček, T., Fujáková, M., Brunovský, M. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2012)
Baggott, M. J., Siegrist, J. D., Galloway, G. P. et al. · PLOS ONE (2010)
Halberstadt, A. L., Nicholas, C. R. · Handbook of Behavioral Neuroscience (2010)
Ray, T. S. · PLOS ONE (2010)
Bouso, J. C., Doblin, R., Farré, M. et al. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2008)
Spitzer, M., Franke, B., Walter, H. et al. · Neuropharmacology (2001)
Gouzoulis-Mayfrank, E., Schreckenberger, M., Sabri, O. et al. · Neuropsychopharmacology (1999)
Your Personal Research Library
Go Pro to save papers, add notes, rate studies, and organize your research into custom shelves.