Abstract
BackgroundMethamphetamine and ketamine are commonly used club drugs. Both of them have been reported to mimic psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia. However, the prevalence and detailed features of psychotic symptoms among methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) and ketamine use disorder (KUD) patients are largely unknown. This study aimed to measure psychotic symptoms among patients with MUD and KUD.MethodsA total sample of 842 patients from voluntary drug rehabilitation centers, including 462 MUD patients and 380 KUD patients, were invited to this study. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was applied to assess psychotic symptoms in these two groups of patients.ResultsThe prevalence of psychotic symptoms was significantly higher among MUD patients than KUD patients (75.1 vs. 50.5%, 95% CI: 3.532 – 11.858, p < 0.001). Compared with KUD patients, MUD patients were more likely to experience positive symptoms (PANSS positive scores: 11.5 ± 6.07 vs. 15.1 ± 8.22, P < 0.001) and negative symptoms (PANSS negative scores: 12.4 ± 6.60 vs. 14.5 ± 8.63, P < 0.001), but not general symptoms (PANSS general scores: 31.2 ± 13.90 vs. 32.2 ± 15.13, P < 0.001).ConclusionsThe current study found that more than half of MUD and KUD patients experienced psychotic symptoms, and that patients with MUD are more likely to experience positive and negative symptoms than patients with KUD. The findings provide a new perspective for exploring the neuropathological mechanism of psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia.
Highlights
The use of synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine and ketamine has been recognized as an increasingly serious and important public health issue in China and other countries [1,2,3]
A series of studies indicate that chronic use of both methamphetamine and ketamine can lead to psychotic symptoms [4,5,6], which are mainly manifested as persistent hallucinations, delusions, and negative symptoms
We find that compared with ketamine use disorder (KUD) patients, methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) patients were more likely to experience positive symptoms (11.5 ± 6.07 vs. 15.1 ± 8.22, P < 0.001) and negative
Summary
The use of synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine and ketamine has been recognized as an increasingly serious and important public health issue in China and other countries [1,2,3]. A series of studies indicate that chronic use of both methamphetamine and ketamine can lead to psychotic symptoms [4,5,6], which are mainly manifested as persistent hallucinations, delusions, and negative symptoms. Studies show that patients with ketamine use disorder (KUD) have a relatively lower risk of psychotic symptoms than those of MUD patients, around 8% [9]. In drug-free healthy individuals, low-dose administration of either ketamine or amphetamine produced positive symptoms (such as conceptual disorganization) and euphoria. Methamphetamine and ketamine are commonly used club drugs Both of them have been reported to mimic psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia. The prevalence and detailed features of psychotic symptoms among methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) and ketamine use disorder (KUD) patients are largely unknown. This study aimed to measure psychotic symptoms among patients with MUD and KUD
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