[Timesink]

I don't think they meant life-long depression, just a greater susceptibility to depression for life.

No, I think they really did mean life-long depression. This particular study might be new, but it's nowhere near the first study that has stongly indicated the possibility that X just completely annihilates serotonin manufacturing in the brain. The hypothesis is that it sort of "breaks open the serotonin flood dam" in the brain; you get completely flooded for 18-24 hours (or however long the pills are good for these days; I know they're not the same as they were 15-20 years ago), but then the lake is gone and the dam's been vaporized.

The only thing I wonder is how much we can trust the researchers, since the British government has desperately been trying to "prove" that Ecstasy is about the most dangerous pill on the planet for years and years. If it wasn't for that, I'd have little trouble at all accepting this hypothesis as probably true. I'm sure never going near an Ecstacy pill.

[eno_]

Ms. Taurah added that findings supported evidence from animal studies suggesting that even small doses of ecstasy destroyed brain neurons that produced the important chemical messenger serotonin, which is closely linked to mood. Seven years after the initial damage there was no sign of the neurons repairing themselves.

If the "researcher" really said that and was not misquoted, I would have some doubts. I think she is looking for the pineal gland, not neurons.

[PoisedWoman]

study stongly indicated the possibility that X just completely annihilates serotonin manufacturing in the brain. The hypothesis is that it sort of "breaks open the serotonin flood dam" in the brain; you get completely flooded for 18-24 hours (or however long the pills are good for these days; I know they're not the same as they were 15-20 years ago), but then the lake is gone and the dam's been vaporized.

Very scary. Do you have a source for that study? Also, do you have any idea whether LSD would have the same or similar effect on serotonin? LSD certainly changed people's lives forever, even one dose.

[jayef]

On its face, your statements are nonsense. Please people, do some research on the subject. The seratonin manufacturing, release and uptake mechanisms are not that complicated. What ecstasy does is not that complicated. Anyone claiming that "permanent damage" is done to the brain is not a scientist.