Cocaine-induced paranoia and psychosis proneness.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine whether individuals who experience transient cocaine-induced paranoia are vulnerable to psychosis.


METHODS
The subjects were 20 cocaine-dependent men who had been using more than 5 g of cocaine per week and were undergoing substance abuse treatment; half reported binge-limited cocaine-induced paranoia. The men were assessed with the Perceptual Aberration Scale and the Magical Ideation Scale, self-report measures of symptoms thought to precede the development of functional psychosis.


RESULTS
The combined scores on the Perceptual Aberration Scale and Magical Ideation Scale were strongly correlated with a history of cocaine-induced paranoia. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive power were 80.0%, 90.0%, 88.9%, and 81.8%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Heavy cocaine users who experience transient paranoia while intoxicated may be at higher risk for development of psychosis than cocaine users who do not experience paranoia.
Satel
S L
SL
Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn.
Edell
W S
WS
D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010259:Paranoid Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011336:Probability; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011605:Psychoses, Substance-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*
D003042:Cocaine