A network analysis of depression, anxiety, and their associations with kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) use among people who previously used methamphetamine
Yang Y, Müller CP, Singh D (2025)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2025
Journal
DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2025.2603333
Abstract
Kratom has been widely reported to alleviate depression and anxiety; however, its effects on depression and anxiety in people who use methamphetamine (METH) are rarely investigated. This study constructed network structures of kratom use, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms to gain a preliminary understanding of the possible psychopharmacological mechanisms by which kratom affects depression and anxiety. R package (Version 4.4.1) was used to construct network structures, calculate expected influence and bridge expected influence, estimate networks accuracy, and stability. A sample of 403 males who used METH with and without kratom-use history were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Compared with those without kratom-use history, those who co-used METH with kratom had several lower levels of depressive symptoms. The central depressive symptom was “sleep disturbance” (BDI-16) and the central anxiety symptom was “heart pounding or racing” (BAI-7). Kratom dosage per consumption was the most important kratom-use indicator that was associated with depression and anxiety. Our preliminary findings indicate that kratom may affect depression and anxiety in males who used METH in a dose-dependent and frequency-dependent manner. The most correlated symptoms and bridge nodes in this network analysis should be considered as potential targets for intervention.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
Malaysia (MY)How to cite
APA:
Yang, Y., Müller, C.P., & Singh, D. (2025). A network analysis of depression, anxiety, and their associations with kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) use among people who previously used methamphetamine. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2025.2603333
MLA:
Yang, Yuting, Christian P. Müller, and Darshan Singh. "A network analysis of depression, anxiety, and their associations with kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) use among people who previously used methamphetamine." Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2025).
BibTeX: Download