false
OasisLMS
zh-CN,en,fr,de,ja,es
Catalog
35th AM (2025) - Poster Session
Sex Differences in the Association Between Symptom ...
Sex Differences in the Association Between Symptoms of Negative Affect and Craving for Methamphetamine
Back to course
Pdf Summary
This study investigates the association between symptoms of negative affect and craving for methamphetamine among adults with Methamphetamine Use Disorder (MUD), focusing on sex differences. Conducted with 35 participants (20 females, 15 males) in Dallas, TX, baseline data from an ongoing clinical trial (NCT06745128) were analyzed using Spearman’s rank correlation.<br /><br />Negative affect symptoms measured included anxiety (GAD-7), depression (QIDS-SR), irritability (CAST-IRR), suicide propensity (CHRT14-SR), and impulsivity (CHRT14-SR). Craving was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) from 0 (no craving) to 100 (most intense craving).<br /><br />Key findings reveal that among females, craving significantly correlated with higher levels of anxiety (r=0.49, p=0.029), irritability (r=0.49, p=0.027), suicide propensity (r=0.60, p=0.005), and impulsivity (r=0.51, p=0.021). Notably, the strongest correlation was between craving and suicide propensity. In contrast, males exhibited no significant correlations between craving and any negative affect symptoms. The total cohort showed weaker but some significant correlations, primarily driven by the female participants.<br /><br />These results contrast with typical epidemiological patterns where males have higher MUD prevalence, highlighting the importance of examining sex-specific mechanisms. The findings suggest that targeting affective symptoms—especially suicidal tendencies—may be particularly valuable in treating females with MUD. Current clinical guidelines recommend addressing affective symptoms regardless of sex, but this study emphasizes the need for sex-tailored approaches.<br /><br />Given the small sample size and cross-sectional design, larger longitudinal studies are necessary to validate these findings. Understanding sex differences in the interplay between negative affect and craving can enhance risk assessment and inform more effective, personalized interventions for MUD patients, particularly among biological females who may have distinct clinical profiles.<br /><br />In summary, this research underscores a moderate-to-strong association of negative affect with methamphetamine craving in females, but not males, highlighting a potential avenue for targeted treatment strategies in MUD.
Keywords
Methamphetamine Use Disorder
Negative Affect
Craving
Sex Differences
Anxiety
Irritability
Suicide Propensity
Impulsivity
Females
Spearman Correlation
×