Profiles of individuals seeking psychiatric help for psychotic symptoms linked to methamphetamine abuse – baseline results from the MAPS (methamphetamine and psychosis study)

Abstract

Background: Methamphetamine psychosis (MAP) is commonly encountered in psychiatric emergency rooms (ERs) in North America, and little is known regarding the specific needs of this clientele.

Aims: This study aimed at describing the psychiatric and socioeconomic profiles of individuals with co-occurring methamphetamine abuse and psychosis profiles.

Method: Two hundred and ninety-five (295) individuals needing psychiatric help for MAP were assessed regarding their socioeconomic situation, their substance abuse patterns, family histories, past psychiatric diagnoses, childhood trauma, and co-occurring disorders of depression, PTSD and antisocial personality disorder.

Results: Eighty-seven percent had a family history of mental illness or substance abuse and close to 70% had a previous diagnosis of a mental illness, although only 21% of a psychotic disorder. Antisocial personality disorder, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder were highly prevalent in our sample. Cluster analyses on methamphetamine (MA) use revealed two profiles: high users (daily, high quantities and inject MA) and low users. No significant differences between the profiles were found for symptoms, but high users were more likely to have antisocial personality disorder and to have experienced childhood abuse than the low users.

Conclusion: The high prevalence of comorbidities in this sample of individuals with MAP suggests that treatments address multiple targets and not only substance misuse and severe mental illness.

Keywords:

• comorbidity
• methamphetamine
• profile
• psychosis
• substance abuse

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by two Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) grants, as well as by the Provincial Health Services Authorities of British Columbia. The first author was a CIHR and Michael Smith Foundation award recipient during this study. The authors would specifically like to thank the participants who took part in this project, as well as the research assistants, clinicians and the MARC members who helped along the way. Parts of these results were presented at the International CBT for Psychosis Meeting in Philadelphia, May 2009.

Notes

1. These subjects could either not recall their MA use or had abused MA more than 30 days ago.