Division of Psychology, London South Bank University, London, United Kingdom.
PLoS One. 2020 Feb 5;15(2):e0227818. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227818. eCollection 2020.
Cognitive enhancing drugs are claimed to improve cognitive functions such as learning and attention. However, little is known presently about the characteristics of off-prescription cognitive enhancing drug users or their perceived everyday experience with these drugs. As modafinil is the most commonly used off-prescription cognitive enhancing drug, the current study aimed to provide a detailed profile of modafinil users and their experiences and perceptions of this drug. To this end, an online survey, targeting cognitive enhancing drug users and students, was advertised on forum sites. Information was obtained regarding demographic data, illicit drug use, psychiatric diagnosis and experience of modafinil. Of the 404 respondents, 219 reported taking modafinil. Of these the majority were male, American or British, university-educated and currently employed, with a mean age of 27. Overall, modafinil was perceived by users as being safe. Modafinil users reported higher levels of illicit drug use and psychiatric diagnosis than would be expected from population-based data. More frequent reported modafinil use was associated with higher numbers of perceived benefits whilst reported frequency of use was not associated with the number of perceived risks. There was also a tentative link between the reported use of modafinil and the reported presence of psychiatric disorders, largely depression and anxiety. Respondents who had reported a psychiatric diagnosis declared higher subjective benefits of modafinil. This may suggest further beneficial effects of modafinil or it may reflect insufficient medical treatment for psychiatric disorders in some people. Overall, the findings of the current study should be beneficial in informing clinicians and legislative bodies about the modafinil user profile and how modafinil is perceived.
认知增强药物据称可改善学习和注意力等认知功能。然而，目前对于非处方认知增强药物使用者的特征或他们对这些药物的日常认知经验知之甚少。由于莫达非尼是最常用的非处方认知增强药物，因此本研究旨在详细介绍莫达非尼使用者的情况以及他们对这种药物的经验和看法。为此，一项针对认知增强药物使用者和学生的在线调查在论坛网站上进行了广告宣传。获取了有关人口统计数据、非法药物使用、精神科诊断和莫达非尼使用经验的信息。在 404 名受访者中，有 219 名报告服用了莫达非尼。其中大多数是男性，来自美国或英国，受过大学教育，目前有工作，平均年龄为 27 岁。总体而言，使用者认为莫达非尼是安全的。莫达非尼使用者报告的非法药物使用和精神科诊断比基于人群的数据所预期的要高。报告的莫达非尼使用频率越高，感知到的益处就越多，而报告的使用频率与感知到的风险数量无关。莫达非尼的使用频率与报告的精神障碍之间也存在初步关联，主要是抑郁和焦虑。报告有精神科诊断的受访者表示莫达非尼的主观益处更高。这可能表明莫达非尼有进一步的有益效果，也可能反映出一些人对精神障碍的治疗不足。总的来说，本研究的结果有助于向临床医生和立法机构通报莫达非尼使用者的概况以及他们对莫达非尼的看法。
