Are Dose and Duration of Methamphetamine Abuse Associated with Psychotic Symptoms?

Regarding the high prevalence of methamphetamine (MA) abuse among the youth population and its consequences, especially psychiatric problems.

This research aimed to investigate the relationship between the rate and severity of methamphetamine associated psychotic symptoms with duration and dose of methamphetamine in Iranian abusers.

The statistical population of this descriptive-correlational study consisted of all methamphetamine abusers who referred to Ibn-e-Sina Psychiatric Hospital in Mashhad city. The cases were selected through convenience sampling method. The research instrument included the demographic questionnaire and positive and negative symptoms scale. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient through SPSS software.

The participants included 100 amphetamine abusers (80 men and 20 women) with the mean age of 30.84 ± 6.62 years. There were significant relationships between dose of amphetamine abuse and positive (P = 0.004) and negative psychotic symptoms (P = 0.04), while the duration of amphetamine abuse did not have any significant relationships with positive and negative psychotic symptoms and general psychopathology (P > 0.05).

The findings indicated dose-related psychosis in amphetamine abusers while the duration of abuse did not have any significant relationships with psychotic symptoms and general psychopathology.