Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37935915›Full record

ReviewPharmacological reports : PR2023

Can research on entactogens contribute to a deeper understanding of human sexuality?

Justyna Holka-Pokorska

Open access · hybridAbstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Pharmacological reports : PR, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
1.6field-weighted citation impact, top 17% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Moving beyond 5-HTPsychopharmacology · 2026
    Article
  2. Ethical Aspects of Psychedelic-Assisted Treatments: An Overview.Current topics in behavioral neurosciences · 2026
    Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

1 author at 1 institution in 1 country.

Justyna Holka-PokorskaDepartment of Pharmacology and Physiology of the Central Nervous System, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Sobieskiego 9, 02-957, Warsaw, Poland. pokorska@ipin.edu.pl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3081-9725
Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology · PL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

In recent years, scientific research into the therapeutic potential of psychedelic compounds has experienced a resurgence of interest. New studies have shown promising results, supporting the use of psychedelic drugs in treating various psychiatric disorders, including treatment-resistant depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and even alcohol addiction. The FDA has recognized 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) as a breakthrough therapy to treat symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. At the same time, interviews with recreational MDMA users have documented experiences of emotional intimacy while using MDMA, often without the desire for penetrative sex. However, some people have reported that MDMA increases their sexual arousal and specifically use it to enhance their sexual performance. This study aims to analyze current and planned research on the psychophysiological effects of entactogens on human sexuality. With their prosocial potential, the pharmacokinetic and neuroendocrine effects of entactogens may recreate the subjective experience of emotional intimacy, the initiation of intimate relationships, or even feelings of 'falling in love' with previously neutral individuals while under the influence of entactogens. This includes MDMA-induced sexual arousal-like effects observed through subjective behavioral perceptions of desire and arousal and specific physiological markers such as oxytocin and prolactin. Modern MDMA-assisted psychotherapy (MDMA-AP) protocols are transparent and follow strict ethical guidelines. However, despite these proposed ethical principles, little consideration has been given to the potential neurobehavioral effects of entactogens on the sexuality of participants in MDMA-AP protocols. The psychophysiological and sexual effects of entactogens should be discussed more openly in current MDMA-AP protocols, including the potential experience of the phenomenon of sexualized pharmacotransference.

Indexed as

HallucinogensN-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamineStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticEmotionsHumansSexualityHallucinogensN-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamineEntactogensPsychedelic-assisted psychotherapySexuality

Identifiers

PMID37935915
PMCPMC10661745
OpenAlexW4388478802

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.