The Prevalence of Substance Induced Psychosis & Substance Induced Mood Disorders in Adolescent Population

Abstract

Introduction:

Drug and alcohol addiction is a leading cause of raising health care cost and has adverse effect on peoples health, social and occupational functioning.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of substance induced psychosis and mood disorders in adolescent population, and to determine what type of substance causing the presentation.

Methods:

Child psychiatry consults in the emergency department at Royal Alexandra Hospital, Edmonton, Canada during October, November, and December, 2007.

Age was 12 to 17 years both sexes. Presenting complaints were either psychosis or mood symptoms. The diagnosis of substance induced disorder was made according to the DSM IV TR. Urine toxicology screen were obtained before discharge from Emergency department for cannabis, amphetamine, and cocaine. Blood test for ETOH was performed.

Results:

Total number of subjects was 27 patients. 70.37% presented with substance induced mood disorder, 29.62% with substance induced psychosis. For patients with psychosis (8, one was excluded, untested urine) 28.57% the urine test was positive for amphetamine, 42.85% marijuana, 14.28% cocaine, 14.28% negative test. For patients with mood disorder (19, 6 was excluded, untested urine) 76.92% urine was negative for substances, 15.30% blood was positive for ETOH, 7.69% urine was positive for cannabis.

Discussion:

In this preliminary data, a trend that substance induced mood disorder is more prevalent than substance induced psychosis. Substance is more to cause psychosis than mood disorder. Cannabis use is more than amphetamine and cocaine to produce psychosis. ETOH use is more than Cannabis to produce mood symptoms.