title: Long-term outcomes in methamphetamine psychosis patients after first hospitalisation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As a consequence of the methamphetamine epidemic in Thailand, the occurrence of methamphetamine psychosis (MAP) dramatically increased. This study aimed to examine the long-term outcomes of MAP patients following their first presentation to a psychiatric hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Methamphetamine psychosis patients who were first hospitalised in Suan Prung psychiatric hospital Thailand in 2000-2001 were identified through a review of the hospital database. Eligible participants were scheduled for visits by trained field researchers in 2007. For those giving consent, a structured face-to-face interview was conducted. Outcomes were collected from both medical records and interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1116 participants were included in the study. Ninety-two (8.2%) participants had died from suicide, accident or AIDS. Due to relocation, only 449 (40.2%) individuals were interviewed. Most of the participants were male (90.6%) with a mean age of 33.3 years (SD = 8.0). The medical records showed that 263 had revisited the hospital in the interim. Of those, 39.2% were re-hospitalised and 38% were given a diagnosis of schizophrenia due to persistent psychosis. The outreach interview found that more than half (55.7%) had experienced psychosis relapse. Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview revealed the following current conditions: psychotic disorders (15.8%), alcohol use disorders (52.1%) and suicidality (22.3%). Participants who did not have a diagnosis of current methamphetamine abuse could be divided into those with a single episode psychosis (52.6%) and those with chronic course of psychosis (38.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals with MAP are likely to have poor outcomes, in terms of premature death, several relapses of psychotic symptoms, chronic psychotic manifestation, and very rates of alcohol use disorder and suicidality. Therefore, those individuals with MAP require long-term monitoring and psychiatric care.
authors.affiliation: Advisory Office, Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Public Health, Tivanon Road, Muang, Nonthaburi, Thailand. phunnapa@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Phunnapa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kittirattanapaiboon
authors.forename: Suwat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahatnirunkul
authors.forename: Hathaichonnee
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Booncharoen
authors.forename: Pornthip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thummawomg
authors.forename: Unchalee
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dumrongchai
authors.forename: Worawan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chutha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000506:poisoning*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008694:Methamphetamine