Methamphetamine psychosis: Insights from the past
Background and aims: To review early case reports and experimental inductions of amphetamine and methamphetamine psychosis, prior to the prohibition of these drugs, to gain a better understanding of the nature and aetiology of methamphetamine psychosis. Methods: Papers considered were historical cas...
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
2018
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/67080 |
| _version_ | 1848761469743661056 |
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| author | McKetin, Rebecca |
| author_facet | McKetin, Rebecca |
| author_sort | McKetin, Rebecca |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background and aims: To review early case reports and experimental inductions of amphetamine and methamphetamine psychosis, prior to the prohibition of these drugs, to gain a better understanding of the nature and aetiology of methamphetamine psychosis. Methods: Papers considered were historical case reports and case series of psychosis relating to the use and misuse of prescription amphetamine, focusing upon papers by Young & Scoville (1938), Connell (1958), and three subsequent experimental studies published in the early 1970s (Griffith 1972, Angrist & Gershon 1970 and Bell 1973), where psychosis was induced in volunteers using high-dose amphetamine and methamphetamine. Results: High-dose methamphetamine and amphetamine can result in a paranoid psychosis which remits rapidly (within days) of discontinuing use. The central feature is paranoia occurring in a clear state of consciousness. This may be accompanied by other psychotic symptoms (e.g. hallucinations). Pre-existing schizophrenia is not necessary, and the syndrome is not due to sleep deprivation. Conclusions: Research findings from the 1930s to the 1970s suggest that paranoid psychosis should be considered a probable consequence of high-dose methamphetamine use. Individuals who experience psychotic symptoms for any substantive period after intoxication has ended should be suspected of having a functional non-organic psychosis, or a latent vulnerability thereto. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T10:32:10Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-67080 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T10:32:10Z |
| publishDate | 2018 |
| publisher | Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-670802018-07-17T01:21:20Z Methamphetamine psychosis: Insights from the past McKetin, Rebecca Background and aims: To review early case reports and experimental inductions of amphetamine and methamphetamine psychosis, prior to the prohibition of these drugs, to gain a better understanding of the nature and aetiology of methamphetamine psychosis. Methods: Papers considered were historical case reports and case series of psychosis relating to the use and misuse of prescription amphetamine, focusing upon papers by Young & Scoville (1938), Connell (1958), and three subsequent experimental studies published in the early 1970s (Griffith 1972, Angrist & Gershon 1970 and Bell 1973), where psychosis was induced in volunteers using high-dose amphetamine and methamphetamine. Results: High-dose methamphetamine and amphetamine can result in a paranoid psychosis which remits rapidly (within days) of discontinuing use. The central feature is paranoia occurring in a clear state of consciousness. This may be accompanied by other psychotic symptoms (e.g. hallucinations). Pre-existing schizophrenia is not necessary, and the syndrome is not due to sleep deprivation. Conclusions: Research findings from the 1930s to the 1970s suggest that paranoid psychosis should be considered a probable consequence of high-dose methamphetamine use. Individuals who experience psychotic symptoms for any substantive period after intoxication has ended should be suspected of having a functional non-organic psychosis, or a latent vulnerability thereto. 2018 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/67080 10.1111/add.14170 Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. restricted |
| spellingShingle | McKetin, Rebecca Methamphetamine psychosis: Insights from the past |
| title | Methamphetamine psychosis: Insights from the past |
| title_full | Methamphetamine psychosis: Insights from the past |
| title_fullStr | Methamphetamine psychosis: Insights from the past |
| title_full_unstemmed | Methamphetamine psychosis: Insights from the past |
| title_short | Methamphetamine psychosis: Insights from the past |
| title_sort | methamphetamine psychosis: insights from the past |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/67080 |