Citation

Pasic J, Russo JE, Ries RK, Roy-Byrne PP. Am. J. Drug Alcohol Abuse 2007; 33(5): 675-686.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98104, USA. jpasic@u.washington.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/00952990701522732

PMID

17891660

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the sociodemographic, clinical, and service use characteristics of patients with positive methamphetamine (MA) urine toxicology and compare with non-MA users seen in an urban Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES). One hundred twenty patient charts were extracted for demographics, mode of arrival, clinical information, medication treatment of MA-intoxication, and disposition. Compared with non-MA patients, MA patients were significantly younger, male, referred by police, with cardiac symptoms, psychosis, dysphoria, past substance use, and were less likely to have a diagnosis of Schizophrenia, a past psychiatric history/hospitalization, and a history of suicide attempts. Subsequent hospitalization rates did not differ. MA patients treated with medications more readily accepted the referral to chemical dependency treatment. This study shows that hypertension and tachycardia upon arrival to the PES, symptoms of dysphoria and psychosis, past substance use and not having the diagnosis of Schizophrenia are all related to methamphetamine use.

Language: en