title: Neurologic manifestations of chronic methamphetamine abuse.
abstract: The drug with perhaps the greatest impact on the practice of Psychiatry is Methamphetamine. By increasing the extracellular concentrations of dopamine while slowly damaging the dopaminergic neurotransmission, Meth is a powerfully addictive drug whose chronic use preferentially causes psychiatric complications. Chronic Meth users have deficits in memory and executive functioning as well as higher rates of anxiety, depression, and most notably psychosis. It is because of addiction and chronic psychosis from Meth abuse that the Meth user is most likely to come to the attention of the practicing Psychiatrist/Psychologist. Understanding the chronic neurologic manifestations of Meth abuse will better arm practitioners with the diagnostic and therapeutic tools needed to make the Meth epidemic one of historical interest only.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1050 Wishard Boulevard, Room 2200, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. drusynia@iupui.edu
authors.forename: Daniel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Rusyniak
mesh_terms: D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications; D010302:Parkinson Disease, Secondary / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications; D011605:Psychoses, Substance-Induced / Q000150:complications; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D008694:Methamphetamine