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There is no such thing as drug-induced schizophrenia, which is a chronic mental condition (not short-term) caused by a combination of factors.
There is no such thing as drug-induced schizophrenia. Although certain medications and recreational drugs may increase your risk of schizophrenia or a similar illness, they are not directly responsible for inducing the condition.
If you develop schizophrenia, it is not a short-term condition. It is a chronic mental condition that is caused by a combination of genetic, physical, biological, psychological, and environmental factors.
Certain drugs such as cannabis, cocaine, lysergic acid diethylamide, or amphetamines may trigger symptoms of schizophrenia in people who are most likely to fall prey to the illness.
What is drug-induced psychosis?
Psychosis is a mental health problem that temporarily causes someone to interpret the world differently from what normal people would.
Drug-induced psychosis refers to the condition when you experience symptoms such as false sensory experiences (hallucinations) or false beliefs (delusions) due to the misuse of a recreational substance. It is usually temporary and quitting these substances makes the symptoms subside and less likely to come back on their own.
Psychosis may appear while a person is using drugs or as part of the drug withdrawal process, such as:
- Amphetamines
- Cannabis
- Cocaine
- Hallucinogens
- Opioids
- Phencyclidine
- Sedative/hypnotics
Psychosis induced by drugs is more intense and tends to come on suddenly, whereas the symptoms of schizophrenia develop gradually.
Doctors can take time to diagnose drug-induced psychosis from other forms of psychosis and conditions such as schizophrenia because many people with disorders that cause psychotic symptoms may be users of illicit drugs.
What are the symptoms of drug-induced psychosis?
Drugs such as lysergic acid diethylamide are known to cause hallucinations. However, drug-induced psychosis is a more severe form of these hallucinations. Psychosis can occur during drug withdrawal, especially if you have been using drugs for a long time and are heavily dependent on them.
Symptoms of drug psychosis include:
- Paranoia
- Terror
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Dangerous behavior (can harm others due to the belief that people are trying to kill them)
- Deviation of thoughts from reality
People with an underlying condition that can cause psychosis may be more likely to experience drug-related psychosis.
How long does drug-induced psychosis last?
The duration of psychosis depends on the frequency of drug usage, type of drug, and time is taken the drug to clear from the body. Usually, psychosis lasts only for one day after taking the drug.
In the case of drugs such as amphetamines, phencyclidine, or cocaine, symptoms may last from more than a day to several weeks. Drug-induced psychosis that accompanies underlying mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, may take months to subside.
- A study that was published in the Shanghai Archives of Psychiatry (2012) followed 189 people who were into illicit drug use, the most common being methamphetamines. These people had been abusing drugs for an average of seven years.
- Among them, psychotic symptoms lasted for a month after stopping the drugs. In 30 percent of people, symptoms persisted for one to six months, and in 10 percent of people, symptoms persisted for longer than six months.
- People whose symptoms lasted for the longest—more than six months—were more likely to have the following factors:
- A family history of mental illness
- An earlier age of onset
- A longer duration of drug abuse
How is drug-induced psychosis treated?
Treatment of drug-induced psychosis usually involves withdrawing the drug that caused the psychosis and observing a safe environment.
Doctors may prescribe the following medications:
- Anti-anxiety drugs such as benzodiazepines
- Antipsychotics
After psychosis has passed, the person should be treated for drug abuse and dependency, which may include:
- De-addiction treatment
- Support groups
- Therapy
- Medication for underlying mental health conditions
- A supportive drug-free environment
People with drug-induced psychosis need counseling because therapy can help them repair the damage of drug-induced psychosis, question their delusions and hallucinations, and ground themselves in reality.