Psychiatric comorbidity in methamphetamine dependence

• Published in: Psychiatry research Vol. 186; no. 2; pp. 356 - 361
• Main Authors: Salo, Ruth, Flower, Keith, Kielstein, Anousheh, Leamon, Martin H, Nordahl, Thomas E, Galloway, Gantt P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ireland Ltd 30-04-2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Amphetamine-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Biological and medical sciences; Comorbidity; Female; Gender; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Mental Disorders - diagnosis; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Neuropharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Psychiatric comorbidity; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychiatry; Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer; Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer..., (alzheimer disease); Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopharmacology; Severity of Illness Index; Stimulants; Substance abuse; Young Adult; Substance abuse; Stimulants; Psychiatric comorbidity; Gender; Amphetamine derivatives; CNS stimulant; Psychotropic; Metamfetamine; Sex; Sympathomimetic; Concomitant disease; Dependence; Mental disorder
• ISSN: 0165-1781; 1872-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2010.09.014

Abstract The primary aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity in a large sample of methamphetamine (MA)-dependent subjects using a validated structured clinical interview, without limitation to sexual orientation or participation in a treatment program. The secondary aim was to assess whether the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities varied by gender. Structured clinical interviews (SCIDs) were administered to 189 MA-dependent subjects and lifetime prevalence of DSM-IV diagnoses was assessed. Across the sample, 28.6% had primary psychotic disorders, 23.8% of which were substance-induced; 13.2% had MA-induced delusional disorders and 11.1% had MA-induced hallucinations. A substantial number of lifetime mood disorders were identified that were not substance-induced (32.3%), whereas 14.8% had mood disorders induced by substances, and 10.6% had mood disorders induced by amphetamines. Of all participants, 26.5% had anxiety disorders and 3.7% had a substance-induced anxiety disorder, all of which were induced by MA. Male subjects reported a higher percentage of MA-induced delusions compared to female abusers. Given the impact of MA psychosis and other drug-induced symptoms on hospitals and mental health services, the description and characterization of comorbid psychiatric symptoms associated with MA use is of paramount importance.