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Mental health and Chemsex: A view from the Liaison and Emergency Psychiatry Service

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 August 2025

P. Muñoz-Calero*
Affiliation:
Instituto de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
M. Navas Tejedor
Affiliation:
Instituto de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
A. Fuentes Merlo
Affiliation:
Instituto de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
L. Nuñez Cantos
Affiliation:
Instituto de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
D. Gimeno Álvarez
Affiliation:
Instituto de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
P. De la Cruz Ballano
Affiliation:
Instituto de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
A. Ramírez Ibernon
Affiliation:
Instituto de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Chemsex is typically described as the use of specific substances to enable or enhance sex during extended sessions with multiple partners among men who have sex with men (MSM). Numerous studies have linked chemsex with different physical and mental health risks and other potential harms.

According to the latest European online survey por MSM (EMIS-2017), the section on substance use revealed the prevalente of substance use for sexual purposes in the last twelve months was 14.1% with Spain being one of the countries with the highest prevalence of chemsex at the European level.

As the prevalence of chemsex is increasing, consequences from this phenomena arises and a progressive increase in the number of psychiatric consultations and admissions related to chemsex practice have also been described, with substance abuse disorders, depression, and anxiety as the most prevalent diagnoses.

From our Liaison and Emergency Psychiatry Service consultations related with mental health issues and chemsex are increasing with growing number of suicide attempts, psychotic, maniac and depressive episodes.

Objectives

Our objective in this poster is to describe the mental health risks of chemsex, its peculiarities and the main manage issuses in the Liaison and Emergency Pscychiatry Service.

Methods

Systematic review of the scientific literature related with chemsex and mental health risks will be carried out and we will also analyse some of our cases to describe presentation and management of the symptoms.

Results

Chemsex is related with an increased rate of mental health issues and consultations related with substance use disorders, depression and anxiety. Clinical features due to this disorders are unique and integral treatment in coordination with Infectious Medicine Specialist is needed.

Conclusions

Chemsex is an increasing phenomena and it is intimately related with psychiatric disorders.

Psychiatrists must be concerned about it and trained to approach and treat these complex disorders in an integrative way.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Information

Type
Abstract
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of European Psychiatric Association
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