title: Perceived Stress, Alexithymia, and Psychological Health as Predictors of Sedative Abuse.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The harmful effects of sedative medications and substances in conjunction with limited research regarding predictive psychological constructs of drug abuse necessitate further investigation of associated factors. Therefore, the present study aimed to elucidate the roles of perceived stress, alexithymia, and psychological health as predictors of sedative abuse in medical students.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, 548 students at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Iran, were selected using stratified random sampling. The data were obtained using the Perceived Stress Scale, an alexithymia scale (Farsi version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20), and a General Health Questionnaire to assess psychological health. Data were analyzed using discriminant analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results demonstrated that the user and non-user of sedative substances groups had significantly different predictive variables (except for social function disorder) (P>0.05). Physical complaints, alexithymia, and perceived stress, which had standard coefficients of 0.80, 0.60, and -0.27, respectively, predicted sedative drug use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study indicate that perceived stress, alexithymia, physical complaints, anxiety, and depression are associated with sedative drug abuse.
authors.affiliation: Social Development and Health Promotion Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
authors.forename: Nader Rajabi
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Gilan
authors.affiliation: Social Development and Health Promotion Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zakiei
authors.affiliation: Social Development and Health Promotion Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
authors.forename: Sohyla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reshadat
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Rehabilitation Center, Imam Ali Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences. Kermanshah, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Komasi
authors.affiliation: Social Development and Health Promotion Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Ramin
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Ghasemi
keywords: Affective Symptoms; Perceived Stress; Psychological Disorders; Sedative Drug Abuse; University Students