Keywords
Psychostimulants
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Mental health
Substance use disorders
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Abstract
Objective: To analyze the prevalence of psychostimulant use among medical students and its relationship with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnoses, within the context of a high academic demand curriculum. Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional, and quantitative study conducted with 143 medical students from the 1st to the 8th semesters. A sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire was used to investigate the use of various stimulants (caffeinated beverages, energy drinks, and psychostimulants) and self-reported psychiatric diagnoses. ADHD screening was performed using the Brazilian version of the Adult Self-Report Scale (ASRS-18). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and association tests, specifically Fisher's exact test, with a significance level set at 5%. Results: It was found that 52.6% of students with ADHD reported using psychostimulants, compared to only 0.8% of students without ADHD, resulting in a highly significant association (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Psychostimulant use was predominantly concentrated among students with ADHD, suggesting relative alignment with clinical indications. However, the findings also highlight the need for systematic monitoring, health education, and the provision of psychoeducational support to manage academic stress and mental health in this population.
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