Methamphetamine users in the psychiatric emergency services: a case-control study.
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.
Pasic
Jagoda
J
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98104, USA. jpasic@u.washington.edu
Russo
Joan E
JE
Ries
Richard K
RK
Roy-Byrne
Peter P
PP
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000506:poisoning; D016495:Police; D012008:Recurrence; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000453:epidemiology
D008694:Methamphetamine