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Twelve‐month course and outcome of methamphetamine‐induced psychosis compared with first episode primary psychotic disorders
Author(s) -
Hajebi Ahmad,
Amini Homayoun,
Kashani Leila,
Sharifi Vandad
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
early intervention in psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.087
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1751-7893
pISSN - 1751-7885
DOI - 10.1111/eip.12404
Subject(s) - psychosis , methamphetamine , psychiatry , young mania rating scale , positive and negative syndrome scale , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , brief psychiatric rating scale , mania , psychology , medicine , clinical psychology , bipolar disorder , cognition
Background To assess the clinical course and outcome of patients with methamphetamine‐induced psychosis in comparison with patients with primary psychotic disorders. Methods This prospective study was conducted on patients with methamphetamine‐induced psychosis, and 2 groups of primary psychotic disorders: affective psychosis and non‐affective psychosis admitted to 2 psychiatric hospitals in Tehran, Iran, with a first episode of a psychotic illness. A total of 165 subjects (55 in each group) were selected using convenience sampling. They were assessed at the time of admission, discharge and 6 and 12 months after discharge using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, the Young Mania Rating Scale and the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale. The frequency of readmissions and suicide attempts were also assessed. Results Significant differences were found in the trend of changes of symptoms and functioning among the 3 groups. At all‐time points, the severity of negative psychotic symptoms and dysfunction in the non‐affective psychosis group were greater than those in affective or methamphetamine‐induced psychosis groups, with latter 2 having similar profiles. However, the course of positive symptoms in methamphetamine‐induced psychosis was more similar to non‐affective psychosis. Number of suicide attempts and readmissions were non‐significantly higher in methamphetamine‐induced psychosis than in the other groups. Conclusion Methamphetamine‐induced psychosis does not have a satisfactory course and in some cases symptoms may remain even after many months of follow‐up. Rate of certain outcomes such as re‐hospitalization is also considerably high. It is a challenge for the health‐care system that requires evidence‐based interventions.