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Affective temperaments in medical students using prescription stimulants for neuroenhancement

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2020

L. Mineo ,
Y. Sarraf ,
S. Hanauer ,
D. Patel ,
C. Ingram ,
L. Montemagno ,
C. Concerto  and
F. Battaglia
L. Mineo
Affiliation:
University of Catania, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Psychiatry Unit, Catania, Italy
Y. Sarraf
Affiliation:
New York College of Podiatric Medicine, Department of Preclinical Sciences, New York, USA
S. Hanauer
Affiliation:
New York College of Podiatric Medicine, Department of Preclinical Sciences, New York, USA
D. Patel
Affiliation:
New York College of Podiatric Medicine, Department of Preclinical Sciences, New York, USA
C. Ingram
Affiliation:
New York College of Podiatric Medicine, Department of Preclinical Sciences, New York, USA
L. Montemagno
Affiliation:
University of Catania, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Psychiatry Unit, Catania, Italy
C. Concerto
Affiliation:
Seton Hall University, Department of Interprofessional Health Sciences and Health Administration, South Orange, USA
F. Battaglia
Affiliation:
Seton Hall University, Department of Interprofessional Health Sciences and Health Administration, South Orange, USA

Abstract

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Introduction

The non-medical use of prescription stimulants (NMUPS) is a common habit among American college students; It refers to the use of stimulant medications by students who do not qualify for prescription or in higher quantities or manners other than prescribed in order to improve their academic performance. To the best of our knowledge, no studies have examined the role of specific affective, biologically determined and inherited traits that might predict misuse of stimulants for neuroenhancement in graduate education.

Aim

To examine the role for individual temperament traits on non-medical use of prescription stimulants (NMUPS) in medical college students.

Methods

We investigated 181 students using the short form of the Temperament Evaluation of the Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Auto-questionnaire (TEMPS-A). Furthermore, we assessed the association of demographic variables and health risk behaviors (drinking, smoking, use other illicit drugs) with NMUPS. Predictors were investigated using logistic regression.

Results

The prevalence of NMUPS was 30.06% with 7.1% users being previously diagnosed with ADHD. NMUPS users had higher scores on the hyperthymic scale. The main reason for taking NMUPS was to “Increase ability to stay alert during studying” (80.1%) followed by “Allow studying for longer periods of time” (19.9%). The hyperthymic temperament score and being a user of other illicit drugs increased the odds of becoming NMUPS.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that personality profiles can be used to identify students with an increased risk for NMUPS for early personalized counseling and behavioral intervention based on their temperament profile.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Type
e-Poster Walk: Substance related and addictive disorders – Part 2
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 41 , Issue S1: Abstract of the 25th European Congress of Psychiatry , April 2017 , pp. S392
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2017
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