Association between Hikikomori syndrome and psychotropic medication use and misuse in Korean young adults: A population-based study

Abstract

Background: Hikikomori syndrome (HS) is a psychosocial health concern. This study examined the association of HS with psychotropic use and misuse among young adults. Methods: A nationally representative sample of 14,965 survey participants aged between 19 and 34 years was analyzed. HS was defined as a condition involving social withdrawal lasting at least six months, characterized by limited social interaction and confinement to the home or room, without participation in employment or educational activities. The outcome variables examined were the utilization of psychotropic medications during the past year and the misuse of psychotropic medications, which is defined as the non-prescribed use of these medications for non-medical reasons. Logistic regression analyses were conducted, and the associations were reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Of the participants, 183 individuals (1.2 %) were classified as having HS. The prevalence of psychotropic medication use was 3.4 % in the non-HS group and 10.4 % in the HS group, while the prevalence of psychotropic medication misuse was 0.6 % in the non-HS group and 3.3 % in the HS group, respectively. Compared to non-HS, HS was associated with higher odds of psychotropic medication use (adjusted OR: 2.89, 95 % CI: 1.62-5.14) and misuse (adjusted OR: 2.98, 95 % CI: 1.19-7.45) after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. Limitation: The cross-sectional nature of the study restricts the ability to draw causal inferences. Conclusion: HS was linked to psychotropic medication use and misuse. Policy interventions are warranted to monitor the proper use of psychotropic medications among young adults with HS.