2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43
Signs, effects and treatment of amphetamine psychosis
Amphetamine is a psychoactive type of substance that belongs to the class of psychostimulant substances. It was first obtained by synthesis by the Romanian chemist Lazar Edeleano in 1887. Until 1920, this substance had no distribution, then it was unsuccessfully used against asthma. In 1937, pills began to be produced on a massive scale for the treatment of drowsiness and lethargy. During World War II, amphetamine tablets were used to replace frontline 100 grams for US and British soldiers.
The first addicts appeared back then, but no one raised the alarm. Addiction to amphetamine today is widespread, akin to an epidemic and requires treatment with the involvement of a narcologist and psychiatrist. A disorder characterized by paranoid delusions accompanied by hallucinations of the auditory and tactile types, motor agitation, unstable mood, which begins to develop during and after taking large or small doses of amphetamines, is called amphetamine psychosis.
Content:
- Signs of amphetamine psychosis
- Consequences of amphetamine psychosis
- Treatment for amphetamine psychosis
Signs of amphetamine psychosis
Amphetamine, used constantly and in large doses, leads to a condition that is medically defined as amphetamine psychosis and is characterized by symptoms similar to those of schizophrenia. The most common signs are auditory-looking hallucinations and paranoid delusions. This condition does not go away after a few hours, but is, in fact, a mental disorder that is caused by excessive excitation of the centers of the brain responsible for fear.
At the beginning of amphetamine psychosis there is curiosity, deep thoughts, paranoid phenomena, but to a small extent. Psychosis develops slowly, which is dangerous due to the difficulty in recognizing symptoms. This state turns a person into an obsessive. This results in illogical, unjustified actions, for example, night cleaning at home, unreasonable disassembly, and then the assembly of household appliances. Psychosis is common among people who constantly take large doses of amphetamine and is dangerous for those who are predisposed to schizophrenia, as a small dose of the substance will provoke psychosis.
Consequences of amphetamine psychosis
The state of amphetamine psychosis makes a person unfriendly, aggressive and this can be a reason for violence from the patient. The consciousness of a person dependent on amphetamine is not clouded, but after taking large doses of the drug, there is a likelihood of a special type of confusion, in which the onset is acute, and the character is temporary. This manifestation has the form of gross disorientation with increased alertness (the patient retains an increased readiness to respond to stimuli coming from outside).
Taking large doses of amphetamine threatens with impaired perception of sensations, illusions, hallucinations. Psychomotor activity and symptoms appear, indicating disorders of the nervous system. An addicted person constantly experiences fear, confusion, he always looks around, gets lost in any situation. A person with amphetamine addiction is difficult to make contact (does not hear addresses addressed to him, repeats the same questions).
Sometimes the patient does not realize where he is, does not recognize those around him, is lost in time. Speech becomes too emotional, but incoherent. Psychosis is manifested by unexpected aggression and constant anxiety. Observations record the occurrence of hallucinations of the tactile, visual, auditory type. After the expiration of time, the patient has only vague memories of visions, voices, sensations, or they amnesia.
The consequences of amphetamine-type psychosis include pallor of the skin, tachycardia, and dilated pupils. Confusion can last from an hour to 24 hours. Then comes physical lethargy, weakness and depression of mood.
Treatment for amphetamine psychosis
Treatment for amphetamine addiction with psychosis is a two-step process. The first one is to contact the specialists of the narcological clinic. At the same time, there is no need to worry about publicity, all events are carried out with complete anonymity. Trained specialists take the patient out of the condition that has arisen, bring him to his senses, relieve the physical type of attraction to amphetamines, using the detoxification method.
The second stage is the rehabilitation of the patient. For this, there are specialized rehabilitation centers where psychologists and psychiatrists work. Classes of an individual nature or in groups, lectures, trainings, seminars are aimed at the formation in the minds of patients of a stable aversion to amphetamines, the search for other vital interests without the use of harmful substances.
Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist
Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".
Recommended:
Psychosis - Causes And Symptoms Of Psychosis, Diagnosis And Treatment
Causes, symptoms and treatment of psychosisPsychosis is a pronounced form of mental disorders. The companions of psychosis are delusional states, sudden changes in mood, hallucinations, states of excitement, uncontrollable or depressive behavior, impaired thinking and the complete lack of the ability to critically assess their condition
Bipolar Psychosis - Causes, Symptoms And Treatment Of Bipolar Psychosis
Causes, symptoms and treatment of bipolar psychosisPsychoses can take different forms, it all depends on the patient's lifestyle. A common indicator of all psychoses is an altered perception and understanding of the surrounding reality. The defense mechanism, which, when depressed, shows a positive effect, can develop internal dynamics and turn into a problem in the form of hallucinations, disturbances in thinking processes, delirium - these are signs of a state of a psychotic
Psychosis In Women - Psychosis In Pregnant Women, Postpartum Psychosis
Psychosis in pregnant women, postpartum psychosisDefinition of diseasePsychosis in translation from the ancient Greek language is a disorder of the soul, a disorder of the state. Psychosis is a pronounced and clearly damaged mental activity, which is manifested by reactions of the psyche that contradict the actual situation
Organic Psychosis - Causes, Symptoms And Treatment Of Organic Psychosis
Causes, symptoms and treatment of organic psychosisOrganic psychoses are called a group of psychoses, which are mental disorders with different etiology and clinical presentation. The course of these psychoses has a psychoorganic syndrome of different depths, that is, it can be expressed as a miserable decrease in the level of personality, and bright dementia, accompanied by the decay of memory and intellect
Paranoid Psychosis - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment Of Paranoid Psychosis
Causes, symptoms and treatment of paranoid psychosisA mental disorder in which the distortion of perception of the surrounding world has a vivid expression is called psychosis. It manifests itself in various forms, one of which is paranoid psychosis