Is my friend's psychosis temporary?
February 6, 2011 3:48 PM Subscribe
What signs can I look for to help me determine whether my meth-addicted friend's paranoid behavior stems from amphetamine psychosis, or something more permanent, like schizophrenia?
One: You give no details. How are we supposed to tell?
Two: If you'd given us his/her entire medical and behavioral history, we still wouldn't be able to tell. Most of us aren't doctors or otherwise qualified to diagnose him/her, and those of us who are aren't going going to give you a diagnoses of a person they've never met or examined.
Three: What you'll get is people offering opinion and anecdote, which may feel helpful but may not be at all accurate or pertinent. And a lot of people telling you that your friend needs to see a doctor.
posted by rtha at 3:59 PM on February 6, 2011 [7 favorites]
Two: If you'd given us his/her entire medical and behavioral history, we still wouldn't be able to tell. Most of us aren't doctors or otherwise qualified to diagnose him/her, and those of us who are aren't going going to give you a diagnoses of a person they've never met or examined.
Three: What you'll get is people offering opinion and anecdote, which may feel helpful but may not be at all accurate or pertinent. And a lot of people telling you that your friend needs to see a doctor.
posted by rtha at 3:59 PM on February 6, 2011 [7 favorites]
No matter what the cause, if your friend is experiencing psychosis or psychosis-like symptoms, it's time to call 911 (or your equivalent emergency number if you're not in the U.S)
posted by amyms at 4:02 PM on February 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by amyms at 4:02 PM on February 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
Here are a couple of Googled articles. Sorry in advance if you've already seen them. It looks like there is somewhat of a distinction between meth psychosis and schizophrenia as far as the type of hallucinations are concerned, but not much. I have run across a few heavy-duty addicts and also addicts in recovery, and my impression is that it's hard to completely come back from meth addiction. This is anecdotal.
It is difficult to distinguish the hallucinations of schizophrenia from those of drug use
Kaplan and Sadock break it down
Psychosis sucks
posted by lakersfan1222 at 4:23 PM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
It is difficult to distinguish the hallucinations of schizophrenia from those of drug use
Kaplan and Sadock break it down
Psychosis sucks
posted by lakersfan1222 at 4:23 PM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
According to wikipedia, "The key distinction between [amphetamine psychosis] and e.g. a psychotic disorder or schizophrenia, is that the symptoms of a methamphetamine-induced psychotic disorder are not considered to be permanent and will eventually subside with abstinence and proper treatment."
A little googling suggests that the symptoms are clinically indistinguishable. Psychosis is psychosis. So you'll find out when your friend gets clean.
posted by J. Wilson at 4:57 PM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
A little googling suggests that the symptoms are clinically indistinguishable. Psychosis is psychosis. So you'll find out when your friend gets clean.
posted by J. Wilson at 4:57 PM on February 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
You can't. Indeed, if you brought your friend to me for diagnosis, I would not be able to make a determination of where the psychosis was coming from until your friend quit using meth.
posted by OmieWise at 5:05 AM on February 7, 2011
posted by OmieWise at 5:05 AM on February 7, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by 2bucksplus at 3:52 PM on February 6, 2011 [2 favorites]