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Modifiable Determinants of Psychological Harms among Male Image and Performance Enhancing Drug Consumers
Etienne Grobler1,2,3, Cheneal Puljević1,2, Benjamin Bonenti4
1School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Background:
Image and performance-enhancing drugs (IPEDs) are linked to undesirable psychological effects (e.g., depression), influenced by various factors. This study examined associations between non-modifiable (e.g. age) and modifiable (e.g. prescription status, dosage regimen, polypharmacy load) factors and psychological effects among male IPED consumers.
Methods:
Data from 785 males (median age = 30) reporting past-year IPED consumption in the 2024 Global Drug Survey were analyzed. Chi-squared tests assessed associations between modifiable and non-modifiable factors with psychological effects, followed by multivariable logistic regression.
Results:
Increasing age was significantly associated with lower psychological risk. Blast and cruise dosing was associated with increased irritability (OR = 3.69, CI [1.44, 3.69], p < 0.001). Polypharmacy involving two IPEDs was associated with lower odds of depression (OR = 0.73, 95% CI [0.28, 0.73], p = 0.001). Prescription status showed no significant association with psychological effects.
Conclusion:
Psychological effects reflect age, dosing, and polypharmacy patterns, highlighting the need for tailored harm reduction.
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