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Quantitative Drug Levels in Stimulant Psychosis: Relationship to Symptom Severity, Catecholamines and Hyperkinesia
Author(s) -
Batki Steven L.,
Harris Debra S.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
the american journal on addictions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.997
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-0391
pISSN - 1055-0496
DOI - 10.1080/10550490490512834
Subject(s) - stimulant , hyperkinesia , amphetamine , psychosis , psychology , methamphetamine , psychopathology , anticholinergic , drug , akathisia , psychiatry , clinical psychology , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , medicine , pharmacology , dopamine , antipsychotic , neuroscience
To examine the relationship between quantitative stimulant drug levels, catecholamines, and psychotic symptoms, nineteen patients in a psychiatric emergency service with a diagnosis of amphetamine‐ or cocaine‐induced psychosis were interviewed, and plasma and urine were collected for quantitative assays of stimulant drug and catecholamine metabolite levels. Methamphetamine or amphetamine levels were related to several psychopathology scores and the global hyperkinesia rating. HVA levels were related to global hyperkinesia but not to psychopathology ratings. Although many other factors such as sensitization may play a role, intensity of stimulant‐induced psychotic symptoms and stereotypies appears to be at least in part dose‐related.