title: Monitoring the prevalence of methamphetamine-related presentations at psychiatric hospitals in Cape Town, South Africa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine a demographic profile of methamphetamine (MA)-related admissions to major psychiatric services in Cape Town, obtain a substance use profile from admitted patients, a profile of common MA-related symptoms encountered during the assessment of the patients presenting with MA-related problems, and a brief profile of the psychiatric diagnoses made.
  
  
  METHODS
  Staff in six psychiatric hospitals or wards in Cape Town collected data on methamphetamine related admissions between July and December 2008 using a one-page record review form. The data collection form consisted of the patient's demographic details, presenting symptoms, previous admission details, current MA and other substance use information, and DSM-IV diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 235 forms were completed. Most patients were male (69%) and the mean age was 25 years. The most common presenting symptoms were aggressive behaviour (74%), followed by delusions (59%) and hallucinations (57%). Males were two times more likely to present with aggression as compared to females, while females were significantly more likely to present with depressed mood or euphoric/elevated mood. The majority of patients had substance-induced psychotic disorder (41%), followed by schizophrenia (31%). Twelve percent (12%) had bipolar mood disorder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MA-related psychiatric admissions pose serious challenges to all health services dealing with these patients. Further training and treatment protocol development and distribution is indicated.
authors: Alcohol & Drug Abuse Research Unit, Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa. andreas.pluddemann@mrc.ac.za
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Plüddemann
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Dada
authors: C D H
authors: CD
authors: Parry
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Kader
authors: J S
authors: JS
authors: Parker
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Temmingh
authors: S
authors: S
authors: van Heerden
authors: C
authors: C
authors: de Clercq
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003702:Delusions / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010359:Patient Readmission; D011605:Psychoses, Substance-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013019:South Africa; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008694:Methamphetamine