IMPULSIVE AND AGGRESSIVE PHENOTYPES OF METHCATHINONE ABUSERS AND RELATED GENETIC STUDY
Authors: Liu *Chang , Li Jinqiao , Zeng Na , Mei Huan , Wang Xiaokun , Wu Shui-Lin , Yuan Kai , Liu Xiaoxing , Wang Gang , Meng Shiqiu , Shi Qingguo , Lu Lin , Shi Jie , Bao Yan-Ping 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Background
In recent years, the number and types of new psychoactive substances have increased. Methcathinone is one of the most commonly abused new psychoactive substances. Studies have shown that methcathinone can cause emotional excitement, paranoid irritability, and even lead to violent incidents, posing a threat to the safety of individuals and society.

Aims & Objectives
The purpose of this study is to assess phenotype characteristics and risk factors of impulsivity and aggression among methcathinone users, and further explore the role of environmental and genetic factors in impulsivity and aggression, so as to provide strategies for the prevention and intervention of impulsive aggressive behavior in methcathinone users.

Method
The study adopted a cross-sectional research method, collecting demographic characteristics and past drug use situations through self-made questionnaires. The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) and Buss &Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BP-AQ) were used to assess impulsivity and aggression. Blood samples were also collected to obtain genetic information. Furthermore, multivariable linear regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of impulsivity and aggression. All blood samples were detected by whole genome microarray, and genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) was conducted to generate genetic score. Finally, the structural equation model was used to construct the role model of behavioral environmental factors such as the characteristics of drug abuse, and genetic susceptibility factors in the high impulsivity and aggression among methcathinone users.

Results
From October 2017 to December 2018, 566 methcathinone users were recruited from a compulsory detoxification center in Shanxi Province, China. The respondents in this survey were all male, with an average age of 37±8.36 years. The mean score for BIS-11 and BP-AQ were 37.57 ±16.83 and 25.70 ±18.12, and impulsivity and aggression scores were higher than those of normal people. Long-term methcathinone use, craving, depressive or psychotic symptoms were the risk factors of high impulsivity. High-dose methcathinone use, simultaneous abuse of other drugs, craving, depressive or psychotic symptoms, high impulsivity were the risk factors of high aggression. The results of structural equation model showed that methcathinone abuse can directly lead to the increase of impulsivity and aggression, or indirectly lead to the increase of aggression through the increase of impulsivity. The genetic risk scores related to impulsivity and aggression can also increase the severity of drug abuse, further increase impulsivity and aggression.

Discussion & Conclusion
Impulsivity and aggression were high among methcathinone users. methcathinone use can significantly increase impulsivity and aggression, while individuals with high impulsivity and aggression genetic scores were more likely to have a higher degree of methcathinone abuse, thus forming a vicious circle. This study suggested that we should pay attention to the health education for participants with high impulsivity and aggression to prevent methcathinone uses and early identification of high-risk behaviors such as mental symptoms, so as to accurately prevent methcathinone abuse and high impulsivity and aggression behaviors and reduce social harms.

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