Developmental outcomes of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy)-exposed infants in the UK

ObjectiveThis paper aims to review findings from a longitudinal study of prenatal methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) on infant development. MethodsIn a prospective, longitudinal cohort design, we followed 28 MDMA-exposed and 68 non-MDMA-exposed infants from birth to 2years of age. Women recruited voluntarily into a study of recreational drug use during pregnancy were interviewed to obtain type, frequency, and amount of recreational drug use. Their children were followed for a 2-year period after birth. A large number of drug and environmental covariates were controlled. Infants were seen at 1, 4, 12, 18, and 24months using standardized normative tests of mental and motor development. ResultsThere were no differences between MDMA-exposed and non-MDMA-exposed infants at birth except that MDMA-exposed infants were more likely to be male. Motor delays were evident in MDMA infants at each age and amount of MDMA exposure predicted motor deficits at 12months in a dose-dependent fashion. ConclusionsPrenatal MDMA exposure is related to fine and gross motor delays in the first 2years of life. Follow-up studies are needed to determine long-term effects. Copyright (c) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.