Integrative treatment approach to problematic sexualized drug use (Chemsex) of 3-methylmethcathinone : a case report

Article Article scientifique Rapport de cas Integrative treatment approach to problematic sexualized drug use (Chemsex) of 3-methylmethcathinone : a case report eng 2025-10-08 author Khatcherian Eugénie Addiction Division, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. 953601 Eugenie Khatcherian author Arango Arroyave Sofia Psychiatry Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. 425335 author Zullino Daniele Fabio Addiction Division, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Psychiatry Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. 649976 Département de psychiatrie (PSYAT) author Achab Sophia 0000-0002-3861-3297 Addiction Division, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. sophia.achab@unige.ch.,Psychiatry Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. sophia.achab@unige.ch. 712947 Département de psychiatrie (PSYAT) 486 10.1186/s13256-025-05492-9 41063204 1752-1947 PMC12506340 https://jmedicalcasereports.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13256-025-05492-9 Introduction: The practice of chemsex refers to the use of drugs during sexual activities. Many articles describe chemsex practices and address the risks of sexually transmitted infections; however, few address the topic of addictive patterns of chemsex in terms of diagnostic criteria, predisposing factors, and recommended treatments. Drugs commonly used in chemsex practices include the new synthetic cathinones 3-methylmethcathinone and 4-methylmethcathinone. Knowledge about the addictive properties of 3-methylmethcathinone and 4-methylmethcathinone, as well as the therapeutic possibilities for addiction to these drugs, is still very scarce in the literature. The current case report addresses this gap from a clinical perspective. Case presentation: This case report describes the situation of a 37-year-old white European man suffering from chemsex addiction with 3-methylmethcathinone intake. We suggest a model for conceptualizing chemsex addiction as a compulsive sexual behavior disorder coupled with addiction to one or more substances, while taking place in a particular sociocultural context. We provide a description of the collected clinical symptoms and of the personalized psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy treatment interventions that yielded the patient's recovery. Conclusions: We highlight the relevance of our conceptualization model for abstinence from synthetic cathinones for sexualized purposes, through the lens of the patient's positive response to the fit-for-purpose treatment strategy: personalized psychotherapy and bupropion pharmacotherapy. Finally, we emphasize the importance of carrying out studies that can scientifically validate the predisposing factors, the diagnostic criteria, and the treatments for chemsex addiction. These elements are essential to think about when it comes to adequate public heath interventions for at-risk individuals and groups. 3-MMC 3-Methylmethcathinone Addiction Bupropion Case report treatment Cathinones Chemsex Compulsive sexual behavior Sexualized drug use Dewey 616.89 60 Département de psychiatrie 225 false be7070e6-6371-4438-9232-008099338a07 Centre collaborateur de l'OMS pour la Recherche et la Formation en Santé mentale 496 Abus de substances 834 Journal of medical case reports 19 1 c708c0ce-2224-4b15-bbc6-d709834dce41 Article (Published version) Public Article_scientifique_from_crossref.pdf 948747 application/pdf CC BY-NC-ND-4.0 e29f9bc94c80453c992ead72c7b34c747e12cf98e1c5544ad1ac8d04e33453af openAccess Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département de psychiatrie

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Integrative treatment approach to problematic sexualized drug use (Chemsex) of 3-methylmethcathinone : a case report	Journal of medical case reports	2025	22	131

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