A Study of the Phenomenology of Psychosis Induced by Methamphetamine: a Preliminary Research

Abstract

Background: Psychotic disorder due to industrial drug, such as methamphetamine addiction, is one of the important causes for referral to psychiatric hospital. Psychotic symptoms in these patients are varied. A group of researchers believe that methamphetamine-induced psychosis is completely similar to schizophrenia. Others believe that at least some cases of permanent psychotic clinical manifestation due to methamphetamine abuse are different from schizophrenia. In the present study, the existence of differences between psychotic symptoms caused by methamphetamine addiction and schizophrenia is investigated.

Psychosis induced by amphetamines

“…Glasner-Edwards and Mooney [19 & ], however, claim that with thorough diagnostics and observing how long the psychosis lasts, it is possible to distinguish the two. A qualitative study found the clinical manifestation of psychosis induced by amphetamines to be different from that induced by schizophrenia, with more rare symptoms such as vivid visual hallucinations [20]. A review of methamphetamine use in Iran provided information that such vivid visual hallucinations are a known clinical phenomenon [21].…”