Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Amphetamine-type stimulants refer to a group of drugs whose principal members include amphetamine and methamphetamine. The use of these drugs is a global and growing phenomenon and in recent years, there has been a significant increase in the production and use of amphetamines worldwide. According to The world drug report the amount of methamphetamine seized was increased from 34 tons in 2009 to 88 tons in 2013. In addition to growing market for methamphetamine in East and South-East Asia, there are also indications of increasing use in parts of North America and Europe. It is well established from several years ago that there is a strong relationship between the amphetamines use and the development of acute psychosis. Amphetamine induced psychosis usually is a state of amphetamine intoxication with psychotic symptoms, commonly presented with delusions and hallucinations. The early studies demonstrated that amphetamines could produce psychotic symptoms even in healthy subjects. Amphetamine induced psychosis has been reported in 13–45% of regular users of amphetamines. Regarding the highly addictive nature, and its ability to produce psychotic symptoms, amphetamine abuse is a major public health concern in the current century. While the number of the patients with amphetamine induced psychosis as well as the patients with abuse and chronic dependence on amphetamine is growing, more comprehensive understanding of clinical features and treatment of this disorder will be required to address the psychosis as well as the addiction. This presentation will review the risk factors, frequency, symptoms, and treatment of amphetamine induced psychosis. Also implications for practice, management and future research will be discussed.

Biography

Vahid Farnia is the current chair in Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran and he had been the chairperson of the Behavioral Sciences Research Center at the university from 2010 to 2013. He studied medicine at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran and obtaining his medical degree in 2000. He was a resident in psychiatry at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran and obtains his national psychiatry board certification in 2008. He has undertaken 8 projects concerning amphetamine psychosis, dependence on amphetamine and drugs supported by Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. He is the author of a chapter with topic of "Amphetamine psychosis" in the book entitled "Neuropathology of Drug Addictions and Substance Misuse" which was edited by professor Victor R. Preedy from King's College London.

Email: vfarnia@kums.ac.ir