Factors affecting the development of spontaneous recurrence of methamphetamine psychosis.
The process triggering spontaneous recurrences of methamphetamine (MAP) psychosis (i.e. flashbacks) was studied in 41 flashbackers, along with 84 non-flashbackers with a history of MAP psychosis. Plasma monoamine metabolite levels were assayed in 25 of the 41 flashbackers, 16 of the 84 non-flashbackers, 9 subjects with persistent MAP psychosis and 28 control subjects. All flashbackers had experienced threatening events or frightening paranoid-hallucinatory states during previous MAP use. The dominant factor triggering flashbacks was a mild fear of other people. Plasma norepinephrine levels were elevated during flashbacks. The results suggest that a mild fear of other people may have elicited memories of MAP psychosis associated with threatening experiences through increased sensitivity to psychosocial stressors. As a result the flashbacks occurred, including an increase in peripheral noradrenergic activity.
Yui
K
K
Medical Care Section, Urawa Juvenile Classification Home, Ministry of Justice, Takasago, Japan.
Ishiguro
T
T
Goto
K
K
Ikemoto
S
S
D000328:Adult; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000097:blood; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D010259:Paranoid Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D015985:Precipitating Factors; D012008:Recurrence; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D009638:Norepinephrine