Addiction journal
Addiction journal
MDMA, anxiety, and depression with Zachary Bryant
MDMA, anxiety, and depression with Zachary Bryant
MDMA, anxiety, and depression with Zachary Bryant
Friday 31st October 2025
Explore MDMA's link to anxiety with Zachary Bryant's research on long-term mental health effects in this engaging episode.
17 minutes
Informative
Eye-opening
Engaging
Educational
Honest
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Addiction journal
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Navigating Alcohol Dependency
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Navigating Intimate Relationships
Family Recovery from Addiction
Nutritional Pathways to Recovery
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Get the buttons here!MDMA's Hidden Impact on Anxiety and Depression
Episode Overview
- MDMA use in youth may increase anxiety risk by mid-30s.
- No strong link found between MDMA and later depression.
- Biological effects of MDMA impact neurotransmitters like serotonin.
- Potential self-medication among MDMA users is discussed.
- Findings could influence public health strategies and clinical practices.
"We found little evidence of an association between MDMA and later depression, but a higher risk of anxiety disorders."
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? In this episode, Dr Tsen Vei Lim chats with Zachary Bryant, a PhD candidate at the University of Sydney, about his research on the long-term mental health effects of MDMA use. Zachary's work dives into whether recreational use of MDMA in youth can lead to anxiety or depression later in life. He uses the Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study to explore this complex relationship.
You'll learn about MDMA's impact on neurotransmitters and why its use is so prevalent among young adults in Australia. The episode uncovers some surprising findings: while there's little evidence linking MDMA to later depression, there's a noticeable connection to increased anxiety disorders by mid-30s. Zachary discusses potential reasons for this, touching on the biological effects of MDMA and the possibility of self-medication among users.
Listeners will gain insights into how these findings could shape public health strategies and inform clinical practices. With a mix of scientific rigor and engaging conversation, this episode offers a thoughtful look at the implications of MDMA use, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in mental health and substance use research. So, are you ready to rethink what you know about MDMA and its long-term effects?