Behavioral and psychological correlates of problematic smartphone use in street ketamine users.
Chia-Heng Lin, Yang-Lin Lin, Chia-Hsiang Chan
BMC Psychology April 27, 2025 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-025-02778-x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 233 |
| Population | Adults diagnosed with ketamine use disorder referred for court-ordered addiction treatment |
| Topics | Ketamine Esketamine |
| Keywords | Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder Behavioral addiction Internet gaming Problematic smartphone use Smartphone addiction Ketamine abuse ADHD Gaming disorder |
| Key findings | Problematic smartphone use risk was associated with longer daily usage, higher ADHD symptom scores, and greater likelihood of using smartphones for online gaming. |
Abstract
While problematic smartphone use screening tools are widely used and increasingly evaluated in student populations, their applicability and clinical stability across diverse groups-particularly those with comorbid substance use-remain unclear. Moreover, the overlap between problematic smartphone use and internet gaming disorder has not been well established in clinical contexts. This study explores the behavioral and psychological characteristics associated with problematic smartphone use, focusing on its relationship with online gaming behaviors among ketamine users referred for court-ordered addiction treatment. The study involved 233 participants diagnosed with ketamine use disorder. Participants reported their daily smartphone use and primary usage purposes. Ketamine dependence was assessed using the Chinese version of the Severity of Dependence Scale. Emotional distress was evaluated using the Brief Symptom Rating Scale and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms were assessed using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-V1.1). Problematic smartphone use risk was evaluated using the Short Form of the Problematic smartphone use Inventory (SPAI-SF). Logistic regression was used to analyze factors related to problematic smartphone use risk. The problematic smartphone use risk group reported significantly longer daily smartphone usage (odds ratio [OR]: 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29-2.08), higher ASRS-V1.1 scores (OR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.05-1.23), and a greater likelihood of using smartphones for online gaming (OR: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.19-4.29). Excessive smartphone use in ketamine users is closely linked to online gaming, and ADHD symptoms may increase the risk of problematic smartphone use in this population.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on ketamine, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taming the Ketamine Tiger Volunteers from a prison population | 2010 | Observational study | n = 20 |
| Increased spontaneous MEG signal diversity for psychoactive doses of ketamine, LSD and psilocybin Humans | 2017 | Observational study | |
| Disruption of Frontal–Parietal Communication by Ketamine, Propofol, and Sevoflurane Surgical patients undergoing induction of anesthesia with intravenous ketamine | 2013 | Observational cohort | n = 30 |
| Do the dissociative side effects of ketamine mediate its antidepressant effects? Treatment-resistant inpatients with major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder | 2014 | Observational cohort | n = 108 |
| Concomitant BDNF and sleep slow wave changes indicate ketamine-induced plasticity in major depressive disorder Patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder | 2012 | Observational cohort | n = 30 |