Medication-Induced Psychotic Disorder

Substance/Medication-Induced Psychotic Disorder Addiction Drug Use Print Substance/Medication-Induced Psychotic Disorder By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD is a psychologist, professor, and Director of the Centre for Health Leadership and Research at Royal Roads University, Canada. Learn about our editorial policy Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on June 06, 2019 Claudia Burlotti / Getty Images More in Addiction Drug Use Cocaine Heroin Marijuana Meth Ecstasy/MDMA Hallucinogens Opioids Prescription Medications Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery Substance/Medication-Induced Psychotic Disorder is the diagnostic name for alcohol or drug-induced psychosis. Psychosis is a serious mental condition that involves the persons losing contact with reality, to a greater or lesser extent, and is most often associated with certain mental illnesses like schizophrenia. While there are similarities between the symptoms of substance-induced psychosis and psychosis associated with mental illness, they are different conditions, with different causes and treatments. Symptoms   Substance or medication-induced psychotic disorder has two major symptoms, delusions and hallucinations. People with substance-induced psychosis might have delusions, hallucinations, or both. People with substance-induced hallucinations and delusions may or may not have insight into whether they are real. Symptoms May Include: HallucinationsDelusionsDissociationDisordered thinking Other symptoms that may be involved in substance-induced psychosis but are not required for the diagnosis are abnormal psychomotor behavior and negative symptoms. Negative symptoms involve the absence of a normal psychological experience, such as experiencing the normal range of emotions. Instead, the person will be emotionally flat and lack in emotional expression. When physicians or psychologists give a diagnosis of substance/medication-induced psychotic disorder, they check to make sure that the psychosis wasnt there before the use of alcohol, drugs or medications thought to be responsible. This is because there are different types of psychotic disorders, and if the symptoms were there before the substance use, it isnt usually the substance/medication-induced type of psychosis. Sometimes a person with a past history of a primary psychotic disorder can still be diagnosed with substance-induced psychosis if the psychotic symptoms are better accounted for by the substance use. However, if the psychotic symptoms persist for a substantial period of time, say, a month or more, after the person stops using the intoxicating drug or medication, or they have a prior history of the recurrent psychotic disorder, the diagnosis will probably not be a substance-induced psychotic disorder. Prevalence The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) estimates that 3 in every 100 people will experience an episode of psychosis at some point in their life. When to Seek Help for Symptoms of Psychosis How Soon After Taking the Drug Can Psychosis be Induced? In some cases, almost immediately. There is even a category with onset during intoxication, which means that the psychotic episode actually begins when the individual is high on the drug. It can also occur during withdrawal. The substance-induced psychotic disorder is different from the disturbances of consciousness that occur during an episode of delirium, which can also be substance or medication-induced. Finally, for the diagnosis of Substance/Medication-Induced Psychotic Disorder to be given, there has to be some sort of significant impact that the psychotic symptoms are having on the persons life, either by causing a great deal of distress, or by impairing some aspect of their life, such as their social life, their employment situation, or another part of their life that is important to them. The Symptoms Used to Diagnose Substance Use Disorders Drugs That Cause Substance/Medication-Induced Psychotic Disorder A wide variety of psychoactive substances can cause substance-induced psychotic disorder, including: Alcohol-induced psychotic disorderCannabis-induced psychotic disorderPhencyclidine-induced psychotic disorderOther hallucinogen-induced psychotic disorderInhalant-induced psychotic disorderSedative-induced psychotic disorderHypnotic-induced psychotic disorderAnxiolytic-induced psychotic disorderAmphetamine-induced psychotic disorderOther stimulant-induced psychotic disorderCocaine-induced psychotic disorderOther substance-induced psychotic disorderUnknown substance-induced psychotic disorder Medications that are known to cause substance-induced psychotic disorder include: Anesthetic-induced psychotic disorderAnalgesic-induced psychotic disorderAnticholinergic-induced psychotic disorderAnticonvulsant-induced psychotic disorderAntihistamine-induced psychotic disorderAntihypertensive-induced psychotic disorderCardiovascular medication-induced psychotic disorderAntimicrobial medication-induced psychotic disorderAntiparkinsonian medication-induced psychotic disorderChemotherapeutic agent-induced psychotic disorderCorticosteroid-induced psychotic disorderGastrointestinal medication-induced psychotic disorderMuscle relaxant-induced psychotic disorderNonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication-induced psychotic disorderOver-the-counter medication-induced psychotic disorder, including OTC medications such as phenylephrine and pseudoephedrineAntidepressant medication-induced psychotic disorderDisulfiram-induced psychotic disorder Toxins that have been reported to induce psychotic disorders include anticholinesterase, organophosphate insecticides, sarin, and other nerve gases, carbon monoxide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and volatile substances such as fuel or paint. Drugs or Psychosis Can Cause Delusions