Methamphetamine-induced psychosis : clinical features, treatment modalities and outcomes
Date
2016
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS Publishing
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the clinical features, prescribing patterns and outcomes of psychiatric inpatients admitted with methamphetamine-induced psychosis.
Method: A cross-sectional, descriptive pilot study was conducted between March 2014 and August 2014 at three South African Mental Health Care Act designated hospitals prior to admission to a psychiatric hospital. Patients with methamphetamine-related psychotic symptoms according to the DSM-5 criteria were eligible. Structured face-to-face interviews were conducted and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale was employed as a measure of current
psychopathology.
Results: Fifty-six participants were included. Positive psychotic symptoms (e.g. hallucinations) were more prominent than negative symptoms (e.g. affective blunting). Almost half the participants (43%) had previous episodes of methamphetamine-induced psychosis. Within this group, all had defaulted on the prescribed treatment prior to admission. Only 29% of the participants had received prior formal substance-use rehabilitation as treatment for their disorder. High rates of comorbid cannabis and alcohol use (51%) were recorded. Most of the participants required transfer to specialist psychiatric hospitals. The amounts of methamphetamine used were not a predictor of the persistence of psychosis; however, the pattern of use was.
Conclusion: Clinical features correspond with other international findings. The currently employed model of sequential, non-integrated psychiatric and substance use treatment in this setting appears ineffective.
Description
CITATION: Thomas, E., et al. 2016. Methamphetamine-induced psychosis : clinical features, treatment modalities and outcomes. South African Journal of Psychiatry, 22(1):1-6, doi:10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v22i1.980.
The original publication is available at http://www.sajp.org.za
The original publication is available at http://www.sajp.org.za
Keywords
Methamphetamine abuse, Methamphetamine abuse -- Treatment, Methamphetamine -- Side effects, Methamphetamine -- Psychological aspects
Citation
Thomas, E., et al. 2016. Methamphetamine-induced psychosis : clinical features, treatment modalities and outcomes. South African Journal of Psychiatry, 22(1):1-6, doi:10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v22i1.980
2078-6786 (online)
1608-9685 (print)
2078-6786 (online)
1608-9685 (print)