Mental Health Among Men Who Have Sex with Men Under the Influence of Psychoactive Substances: a Systematic Review

  • Abstract: Sex under the influence of psychoactive substances (SUIPS) has gained much attention in the press and scientific literature over the last years, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM). Concerns have thus far been expressed in relation to short-term physical health risks, like contracting bloodborne diseases, like viruses. However, much less is known about long-term mental health consequences of SUIPS, like depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders (SUD). Therefore, we systematically reviewed literature for evidence on mental health complications of SUIPS in MSM. SUIPS was associated with a lower general mental health status, and higher rates of depression, anxiety disorders and suicide ideation in 15 studies, and higher rates of SUD were found among MSM practicing SUIPS in four studies. Motives of SUIPS were increasing sexual performance, fear of rejection, anxiety, and low self-esteem among others. Furthermore, long-term mental health risks, as associated with some of the most frequently reportedAbstract: Sex under the influence of psychoactive substances (SUIPS) has gained much attention in the press and scientific literature over the last years, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM). Concerns have thus far been expressed in relation to short-term physical health risks, like contracting bloodborne diseases, like viruses. However, much less is known about long-term mental health consequences of SUIPS, like depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders (SUD). Therefore, we systematically reviewed literature for evidence on mental health complications of SUIPS in MSM. SUIPS was associated with a lower general mental health status, and higher rates of depression, anxiety disorders and suicide ideation in 15 studies, and higher rates of SUD were found among MSM practicing SUIPS in four studies. Motives of SUIPS were increasing sexual performance, fear of rejection, anxiety, and low self-esteem among others. Furthermore, long-term mental health risks, as associated with some of the most frequently reported psychoactive substances in the context of SUIPS, include psychosis and substance dependence. Therefore, the present findings indicate that SUIPS is associated with mental disorders and that they are probably closely intertwined with motives for SUIPS and the long-term effects of using psychoactive substances. This underlines the need to address the presence of mental disorders in people practicing SUIPS, alongside the physical risks.show moreshow less

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Metadaten
Author:Tibor Markus BruntORCiD, Niels Graf, Daniel DeimelORCiD, Henrike ScheckeORCiD, Jan van Amsterdam, Leon Knoops, Wim van den Brink
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-023-01230-8
ISSN:1557-1874
Parent Title (English):International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
Publisher:Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Date of first Publication:2024/01/05
Reviewed:Begutachtet/Reviewed
Release Date:2025/04/16
Tag:Sex under the infuence of psychoactive substances · Chemsex · Motives · Psychopathology · Substance use disorder · Depression · Anxiety
Pagenumber:25
institutes:Fakultät Sozialwissenschaften
Licence (German):Creative Commons - CC BY - Namensnennung 4.0 International
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