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 (...