Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
https://trends.org.br/article/doi/10.1590/2237-6089-2013-0065
Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
Original Article

Patterns of non-medical use of methylphenidate among 5th and 6th year students in a medical school in southern Brazil

Padrões do uso não médico de metilfenidato em estudantes do 5º e do 6º ano de uma faculdade de medicina do Brasil

Rodrigo da Rosa Silveira; Betina Lejderman; Pedro Eugênio Mazzucchi Santana Ferreira; Gibsi Maria Possapp da Rocha

http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/2237-6089-2013-0065 Trends Psychiatry Psychother, vol.36, n2, p.101-106, 2014
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Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of methylphenidate (MPH) use among 5th and 6th year medical students, to discriminate MPH use with and without medical indication, and to correlate MPH use with alcohol intake.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study in which medical students were invited to answer a questionnaire to evaluate academic and socioeconomic status, MPH use patterns, and attitudes towards neuroenhancing drugs. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was used to assess alcohol intake; a score ≥ 8 suggests potentially hazardous alcohol use.Results: Fifty-two participants (34.2%) had already used MPH, of which 35 (23.02%) had used it without medical indication. The number of 6th year students who had used MPH was more than twice higher than that of their 5th year counterparts (32.89 vs. 13.15%, respectively; p = 0.004). Also, 43.6% (p = 0.031) of the users of MPH had an AUDIT score ≥ 8; 33.3% (p = 0.029) of non-medical users of MPH had an AUDIT score ≥ 8.Conclusions: In this study, the use of MPH without medical indication was prevalent. Our findings also confirmed the association between non-medical use of MPH and potentially hazardous alcohol use.

Keywords

Methylphenidate, attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, ethics, alcohol abuse

Resumo

Objetivos: Avaliar a prevalência do uso do metilfenidato entre estudantes do 5º e do 6º ano de uma faculdade de medicina, discriminar o uso com ou sem indicação médica e correlacionar o uso de metilfenidato com a ingestão de álcool.Métodos: Este é um estudo transversal, em que os alunos de medicina foram convidados a responder um questionário para avaliação do status socioeconômico e acadêmico, padrões do uso do metilfenidato e atitude em relação a drogas potencializadoras da cognição. Também foi aplicado o questionário The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT), que avalia o consumo de bebidas alcoólicas, onde um score ≥ 8 significa ingestão potencialmente perigosa de álcool.Resultados: Cinquenta e dois participantes (34,2%) já haviam usado metilfenidato, sendo que 35 destes (23,02%) haviam usado a substância sem indicação médica. O número de estudantes do 6º ano que fizeram uso não médico de metilfenidato foi mais de duas vezes maior do que o número de estudantes do 5º ano (32,89 versus 13,15%, respectivamente; p = 0,004). Em relação ao AUDIT, 43,6% (p = 0,031) dos usuários de metilfenidato tiveram escores ≥ 8; 33,3% (p = 0,029) dos usuários não médicos de metilfenidato tiveram escores ≥ 8 no AUDIT.Conclusões: Neste estudo, o uso de metilfenidato sem indicação médica foi prevalente. Os achados também evidenciaram a associação entre o uso não médico de metilfenidato e o uso potencialmente perigoso de álcool.

Palavras-chave

Metilfenidato, transtorno do déficit de atenção com hiperatividade, ética

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