SynthesisInternational journal of environmental research and public health2021
Mental Health Symptoms Associated with Sexualized Drug Use (Chemsex) among Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Systematic Review.
Synthesis in International journal of environmental research and public health, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 56 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
56 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 117 citations in OpenAlex.
- The complex social, cultural and psychological drivers of the 'chemsex' experiences of men who have sex with men: a systematic review and conceptual thematic synthesis of qualitative studies.Frontiers in public health · 2025Pooled it
- Prevalence of Intoxicating Substance Use Before or During Sex Among Young Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Archives of sexual behavior · 2023Pooled it
- Patterns of Drug Use Across Social and Sexual Contexts in Spain: Insights From the European Web Survey on Drugs 2024.Archives of sexual behavior · 2026Article
- Experiences, Beliefs, and Dynamics in Chemsex: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Prevalence, Patterns and Implications of Chemsex Substance Use Among Gay and Bisexual Men Who Have Sex With Men: A Cohort-Collaboration Between the Swiss HIV Cohort Study and the SwissPrEPared Study.Journal of the International AIDS Society · 2026Article
- Validation of the Stimulant Use Motives Scale and Assessment of Its Associations with Psychosocial Functioning and Sexual Health in U.S. Men Who Have Sex with Men.Substance use & misuse · 2026Article
- Addictive disorders and correlates in the context of chemsex practices: A French online survey.Addictive behaviors reports · 2026Article
- Chemsex and uptake of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among adult cisgender gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men worldwide: a systematic review with meta-analysis.EClinicalMedicine · 2026Article
- Sexualized alcohol and drug use among men who have sex with men and the PrEP retention in Thailand.Drug and alcohol dependence reports · 2026Article
- Substance Use Among Gay Men Living in Mexico: Perceptions of Well-Being and Implications for Health.Sexuality research & social policy : journal of NSRC : SR & SP · 2026Article
- A systematic review of literature on substance use in nightlife settings utilizingDrug and alcohol dependence reports · 2025Review
- Developing and testing a digital harm reduction app for GBMSM engaging in chemsex: a feasibility study grounded in users' lived experiences.Harm reduction journal · 2025Article
- Inside out: TNFa-RII and sexualized drug use in acute HIV predicts persistent depressive symptoms despite antiretroviral therapy.Brain, behavior, & immunity - health · 2025Article
- Global research status and trends of compulsive sexual behavior disorder: A comprehensive bibliometric analysis.Journal of behavioral addictions · 2025Review
- Healthcare Access Among Individuals Who Practice Chemsex in Brazil: A Scoping Review Protocol.Nursing reports (Pavia, Italy) · 2025Article
- Chemsex as a Diagnostic Challenge: Toward Recognition in ICD-12 and Integrated Treatment Approaches-A Narrative Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
- Can Support for Homosexuality Reduce the Prevalence of Mental Health Problems among LGBTQIranian journal of psychiatry · 2025Review
- Drug Addiction in Gay and Bisexual Men Living with HIV Engaged in Sexualized Drug Use: Recent Drug Use, Polydrug and Depressive Symptoms as Predictors.AIDS and behavior · 2025Article
- An online study to understand chemsex in India.Indian journal of psychiatry · 2025Article
- Identifying subgroups of Chinese men who have sex with men based on sexual behavior and drug use patterns using a clustering analysis approach.BMC public health · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSexualized drug use (SDU), also known as chemsex, refers to the use of psychoactive substances for sexual purposes among men who have sex with men (MSM), which has been associated with mental health symptoms. The objective of this review is to systematically review the available evidence on mental health outcomes in MSM who use sexualized drugs.
methodsTo prepare this systematic review, search strategies were developed and applied to the Web of Science, Science Direct, PubMed, and Scopus databases. A total of 117 articles were found, of which 12 were selected for the final review.
resultsThose MSM who practiced SDU were more likely to experience from depression, anxiety, or a substance dependence, although these results were not found in all the studies analyzed. Among those who practiced the administration of intravenous drugs (referred to as slamsex), the mental health symptoms were more severe.
conclusionsThis systematic review contributes to a fuller understanding of the mental health symptoms present in MSM who consume drugs for sexual purposes. Greater uniformity in data collection instruments is required, as well as the need to conduct a more in-depth assessment of the psychosocial adjustment of people who practice chemsex.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.