schizophrenia or drug abuse?
With the of symptoms for schizophrenia and amphetamine abuse so similar, the possibility that schizophrenia is being misdiagnosed in people that abuse amphetamines is very likely. Schizophrenia is characterized by delusions; often paranoid in nature; hallucinations, and negative symptoms that include social withdrawal and apathy. What is intriguing is that drugs, such as cocaine and methamphetamines, can produce symptoms that mimic schizophrenia. Prolonged use of these drugs can produce psychosis, delusions, and often hallucinations in vulnerable people. These cocaine/amphetamine-induced delusions, called amphetamine psychosis, are easy to confuse with those that are characteristic of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia, a severe and chronic disease of the brain, affects approximately 1% of the population of the United States and more than 2 million people suffer from the illness in a given year (Speaking 4). This disorder is found throughout the world and in all races and cultures. Schizophrenia affects men and women in equal numbers, although on average, men appear to develop schizophrenia earlier than women. Generally, men show the first signs of schizophrenia in their mid 20s an
Studies have shown that about half of the population that is diagnosed with schizophrenia have also been proven to be cocaine and methamphetamine users, so this suggests that schizophrenia may be over diagnosed in patients that have symptoms of the illness but also prove to have a history of substance abuse of drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamines. The American Psychiatric Association has published guidelines that are used to classify people with mental disorders. Catatonia is a negative symptom where people become fixed in a single position for a long period of time. These symptoms include two or more of the following behaviors for durations of at least one month: Delusions - bizarre, false beliefs. Delusions, hallucinations, and abnormal speech indicates the presence of abnormal behavior. History, physical exam, or laboratory data must prove that either these symptoms have developed within a month of substance intoxication or withdrawal, or medication use has caused the symptoms (Morrison). 2002Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Washington, D. Typical symptoms of amphetamine psychosis include paranoid delusions where the person feels he/she is threatened or under persecution, hallucinations, and social withdrawal. All of which are also typical of schizophrenia. The most recent guidelines are contained in a book called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (known as DSM-IV for short). People with paranoia have an unreal fear or suspicion that someone is "out to get them". Office of Communications and Public Liaison. Disorganized Thinking/Speech- abnormal thoughts are usually measured by disorganized speech. Negative symptoms include social withdrawal, absence of emotion and expression, reduced energy, motivation and activity.
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