Patterns of synthetic cathinones use and their impact on depressive symptoms and parafunctional oral behaviors.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of the study wasto determine the impact of synthetic cathinonesusage on depressive symptoms and oral behaviors among recreational users.

METHODS

Users of online drugs-related forums were asked to fill in a questionnaire via Google Forms Platform. The questionnaire contained questions about patterns of drugs use, the Beck Depression Inventory II, the Oral Behaviors Checklist (OBC), and questions about basic demographic data (age, gender).

RESULTS

150 participants (75 in the study group, 75 in the control group) took part in the study. In the study group (aged 15-28), all participants used cathinones and other psychoactive substances. 42 participants used cathinones during last month. Statistical analysis showed a correlation between amount of drugs types used and level of depressive symptoms for both groups (study group and control group), as well as a statistically significantly higher mean value of the OBC scores in a group of cathinones users than in controls. Correlation between the BDI-II and OBC results was statistically significant for both the study and control groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering easy access to synthetic cathinones, widely spread intoxications and young age of participants of this survey the subject needs to be widely researched. Psychoactive substances can predispose to development of depression and various forms of parafunctional oral behaviors.