Sleep Deprivation & Amphetamine Induced Psychosis

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the relationship between sleep deprivation and amphetamine-induced psychosis.

Methods: The patient group included 78 patients with a diagnosis of amphetamine (Captagon)-induced psychosis. The control group included 49 patients with no current or past history of amphetamine (Captagon)-induced psychosis. All study subjects underwent the following: a demographic sheet, a structured clinical interview for SM-IV (SCID 1), a drug use questionnaire, a questionnaire to explore any relationship between sleep deprivation and Captagon-induced psychosis, routine medical investigation, and urine screening for detection of drugs.

Results: The patient group showed significantly higher both regular and maximum daily doses of Captagon. Patients showed more periods of sleep deprivation with the use of Captagon in comparison to controls, especially with the increase of the Captagon dose. Patients believed that the occurrence and termination of sleep deprivation were the cause of the start and end of psychotic experiences (more so than the increase and decrease or stoppage of Captagon doses).

Conclusion: sleep deprivation plays an essential role in the development of psychotic symptoms in patients who are using Captagon.

Keywords: amphetamines; captagon; deprivation; psychosis; sleep.