title: Treatment of methamphetamine-induced psychosis: a double-blind randomized controlled trial comparing haloperidol and quetiapine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To our knowledge, only a few double-blind randomized controlled trials with antipsychotic drugs have been conducted to examine the treatment of methamphetamine-induced psychosis (MAP).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study are to compare the antipsychotic and adverse events of quetiapine, an atypical antipsychotic drug, to haloperidol, a standard treatment for primary psychotic disorder, in individuals with MAP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty individuals with MAP were randomly assigned into two groups, i.e. treatment with quetiapine (n = 36) and haloperidol (n = 44). Sixty-eight patients (85 %) completed the study protocol, i.e. treatment with quetiapine at least 100 mg per day or haloperidol at least 2 mg per day orally once a day for 4 weeks. The doses were increased every 5 days until no psychotic symptom was observed from the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Data were analysed by survival analysis with Cox's proportional regression analysis, general estimating equations and log-rank tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-two (89 %) subjects from the quetiapine group and 37 subjects (84 %) from the haloperidol group met the remission criteria at the end of the study. Baseline PANSS total scores of quetiapine and haloperidol groups were 82.4 ± 16.6 and 90.0 ± 18.4, respectively (mean ± SD; p = 0.06). The change-from-baseline scores were -47.8 for the quetiapine group and -53.2 for the haloperidol group. There were no significant differences between the antipsychotic effects (coefficient value = -2.6, p = 0.32, 95%CI = -7.6, 2.5) and the adverse effects of quetiapine and haloperidol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quetiapine may be used as an antipsychotic treatment for MAP with comparable therapeutic effects and adverse events to treatment with classical antipsychotic drugs.
authors.affiliation: Thanyarak Institute on Drug Abuse, Thailand Ministry of Public Health, Pathumthani, Thailand.
authors.forename: Viroj
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Verachai
authors.forename: Warangkana
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rukngan
authors.forename: Kachornwan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chawanakrasaesin
authors.forename: Sumnao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nilaban
authors.forename: Somporn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suwanmajo
authors.forename: Rossukon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thanateerabunjong
authors.forename: Jaranit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaewkungwal
authors.forename: Rasmon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kalayasiri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011605:Psychoses, Substance-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D008694:Methamphetamine; D006220:Haloperidol