title: Use of cognitive enhancement medication among northern Italian university students.
abstract: This study assesses the use of cognitive enhancement medication among university students in Northern Italy. It was conducted as a cross-sectional analysis on the basis of a paper-and-pencil survey of 77 undergraduate students attending courses in the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Milan, Milano, Italy. Although the share of students who have taken cognitive enhancement medication themselves in the past is still small (16%), the use of these drugs is rather common and freely communicated in some social circles. Enhancing the ability to study outside of the class was students' primary motive for use. Students who think that there is no or an acceptable risk involved in cognitive enhancement medication are more likely to take drugs and dietary supplements than those who perceive the risk as high.
authors.affiliation: University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore di Milano, Italy. silvana.castaldi@unimi.it
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Castaldi
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gelatti
authors.forename: Grazia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Orizio
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hartung
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Moreno-Londono
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nobile
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Schulz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D009042:Motivation; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012651:Self Medication; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018697:Nootropic Agents