Withdrawal symptoms in abstinent methamphetamine-dependent subjects
Todd Zorick
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA,
Search for more papers by this authorLiam Nestor
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA,
Search for more papers by this authorKaren Miotto
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA,
Search for more papers by this authorCatherine Sugar
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA,
Search for more papers by this authorGerhard Hellemann
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA,
Search for more papers by this authorGraham Scanlon
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA,
Search for more papers by this authorRichard Rawson
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA,
Brain Research Institute, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Edythe D. London
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA,
Brain Research Institute, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Edythe D. London, University of California at Los Angeles, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorTodd Zorick
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA,
Search for more papers by this authorLiam Nestor
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA,
Search for more papers by this authorKaren Miotto
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA,
Search for more papers by this authorCatherine Sugar
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA,
Search for more papers by this authorGerhard Hellemann
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA,
Search for more papers by this authorGraham Scanlon
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA,
Search for more papers by this authorRichard Rawson
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA,
Brain Research Institute, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Edythe D. London
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA,
Brain Research Institute, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Edythe D. London, University of California at Los Angeles, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorABSTRACT
Aims Withdrawal symptoms have been linked to a propensity for relapse to drug abuse. Inasmuch as this association applies to methamphetamine (MA) abuse, an understanding of the course of MA withdrawal symptoms may help to direct treatment for MA dependence. Previous studies of symptoms manifested during abstinence from MA have been limited in size and scope. We asked (i) whether debilitating psychological and/or physical symptoms appear during the first several weeks of MA abstinence, (ii) how craving for MA evolves and (iii) whether psychiatric symptoms (e.g. depression, psychosis) persist beyond a month of abstinence.
Design A study of MA-dependent participants, who initiated and maintained abstinence from the drug for up to 5 weeks, compared to a matched healthy comparison group.
Setting In-patient research hospital ward (MA-dependent subjects) and out-patient (comparison subjects).
Participants Fifty-six MA-dependent and eighty-nine comparison subjects.
Measurements Rater-assessed MA withdrawal questionnaire and self-report assessment of craving (MA-dependent subjects) and self-report assessment of psychiatric symptoms (both groups).
Findings At study entry, MA-dependent subjects exhibited a wide range in severity of depressive symptoms, with the average score at a mild–moderate level of severity. Symptoms of psychosis were also prevalent. While depressive and psychotic symptoms largely resolved within a week of abstinence, craving did not decrease significantly from the time of initiating abstinence until the second week, and then continued at a reduced level to the fifth week.
Conclusions Depressive and psychotic symptoms accompany acute withdrawal from methamphetamine but resolve within 1 week. Craving is also present and lasts at least 5 weeks.
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