Methamphetamine Induced Psychosis

What is Methamphetamine Induced Psychosis?

Crystal Methamphetamine use has been associated with methamphetamine psychosis: a form of drug-induced psychosis that has been suggested to leave users vulnerable to schizophrenic conditions (Naruse, Fukura, Ohkubo, Ohkubo, Matsuura, Moriya & Nishikawa, 2003)
Violance & Risky Behavior

  • Methamphetamine alters judgment control and may contribute to the prevalence of criminal or violent behavior in methamohetamine users
  • Many crimes have been associated with methamphetamine use, including ID theft (Bersch, 2006)

  • It use has been largely associated with risky sexual behavior and high sexually transmitted infection rates with its users
  • Hypersexual behavior and a “loss of inhibition puts users at risk for sexually transmitted diseases and, in the case of heterosexual women, unplanned pregnancies” (Contraceptive Technology Update, 2006, p.61).
Treatment
  • Methamphetamine detoxification is unique to other drugs, as “individuals will present with significant psychological symptoms that may affect the response to treatment for drug dependence” (Dyer & Cruickshank, 2005, p. 96) Various treatment approaches that have been shown to be successful with methamphetamine and youth include:
  • family based and cognitive behavioral therapy and skill and communication training
  • motivational interviewing which includes “the expression of empathy, developing discrepancy, avoiding arguments, rolling with resistance and supporting the person’s belief in his/her ability to carry out and succeed with a specific task” (Monti, 2003, p. 8)

    Various Nursing Interventions are also available

Beauty From The Heart (2006). Holding hands Retrieved online April 12 from http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j153/spunkyjunior/505428_holding_hands.jpg

Bersch, C. (2006). Is there meth-od to this madness? Medical Laboratory Observer. 38(8) p. 4 Brown, T., Caplan, T.,
Werk, A. & Seraganian, P. (1999) The comparability of male violent substance abusers in violence
or substance abuse treatment. Journal of Family Violence. 14(3) pp. 297-314
Contraceptive Technology Update (2006). Crystal Methamphetamine use poses sexual health risks in women and men:
study finds male heterosexual drug users engage in risky sex. 27(6) pp. 61-63.Retrieved online February 28, 2007 from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=c8h&AN=2009252957&
Dyer, K.R. & Cruickshank, C. (2005). Depression and other psychological health problems among methamphetamine
dependant patients in treatment: Implications for assessment and treatment outcome. Australian Psychologist.40(2). pp. 96-108
Monti, P.(2003) Adolescents and substance use: problems, progress and promise. Naruse, N., Fukura, Y., Ohkubo, H.,
Ohkubo, T., Matsuura, M., Moriya, H. & Nishikawa, T.(2003) Determining vulnerability to schizophrenia in methamphetamine psychosis using exploratory eye movements.
Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences. 57(4), pp. 433-440.
The Brown University Digest of Addiction Theory and Application. p.8
Created by Jacqueline Just