- Section 1 The Subject Matter of and Approach to Psychiatry
- 1.3 Psychiatry as a worldwide public health problem
- 1.4 The history of psychiatry as a medical specialty
- 1.5 Ethics and values
- 1.6 The psychiatrist as a manager
- 1.7 Descriptive phenomenology
- 1.8 Assessment
- 1.9 Diagnosis and classification
- 1.10 From science to practice
- Section 2 The Scientific Basis of Psychiatric Aetiology
- 2.3 The contribution of neurosciences
- 2.4 The contribution of genetics
- 2.5 The contribution of psychological science
- 2.6 The contribution of social sciences
- 2.7 The contribution of epidemiology to psychiatric aetiology
- Section 3 Psychodynamic Contributions to Psychiatry
- Section 4 Clinical Syndromes of Adult Psychiatry
- 4.1 Delirium, dementia, amnesia, and other cognitive disorders
- 4.2 Substance use disorders
- 4.2.1 Pharmacological and psychological aspects of drugs abuse
- 4.2.2 Alcohol use disorders
- 4.2.3 Other substance use disorders
- 4.2.3.1 Opioids: heroin, methadone, and buprenorphine
- 4.2.3.2 Disorders relating to the use of amphetamine and cocaine
- 4.2.3.3 Disorders relating to use of PCP and hallucinogens
- 4.2.3.4 Misuse of benzodiazepines
- 4.2.3.5 Disorders relating to the use of ecstasy and other ‘party drugs’
- 4.2.3.6 Disorders relating to the use of volatile substances
- 4.2.3.7 The mental health effects of cannabis use
- 4.2.3.8 Nicotine dependence and treatment
- 4.2.4 Assessing need and organizing services for drug misuse problems
- 4.3 Schizophrenia and acute transient psychotic disorders
- 4.3.6 Aetiology
- 4.3.7 Course and outcome of schizophrenia and their prediction
- 4.3.8 Treatment and management of schizophrenia
- 4.3.9 Schizoaffective and schizotypal disorders
- 4.3.10 Acute and transient psychotic disorders
- 4.4 Persistent delusional symptoms and disorders
- 4.5 Mood disorders
- 4.6 Stress-related and adjustment disorders
- 4.7 Anxiety disorders
- Section 5 Psychiatry and Medicine
- Section 6 Treatment Methods in Psychiatry
- 6.2 Somatic treatments
- Section 7 Social Psychiatry and Service Provision
- Section 8 The Psychiatry of Old Age
- Section 9 Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
(p. 494) Disorders relating to the use of ecstasy and other ‘party drugs’
- Chapter:
- (p. 494) Disorders relating to the use of ecstasy and other ‘party drugs’
- Author(s):
Adam R. Winstock
and Fabrizio Schifano
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780199696758.003.0066
MDMA, methamphetamine, GHB, and ketamine are all capable of producing acute adverse psychological experiences in normal users and exacerbating symptoms in those with underlying psychological disorders. They also to varying degrees pose the risk of long-term neuropsychiatric consequences. Although dependent patterns of use are not commonly seen with this group of drugs, methamphetamines certainly can result in the very rapid development of severe dependence. Most acute presentations are typically short-lived and self-limiting and are only very rarely life-threatening. The precipitation of an underlying psychiatric disorder or an exacerbation of premorbid traits may well be one of the longer term consequences of heavy use of these drugs. In those who present with acute drug-related psychological symptoms there should be an emphasis on follow-up since in some cases the symptoms will represent the onset of a persistent independent disorder which requires treatment. Users who have experienced acute psychological problems should be encouraged to make the attribution that there may be something inherent in them that makes them susceptible to experiencing the unpleasant reactions with a drug and that they are likely to remain vulnerable to those adverse experiences. This may be difficult to accept for potentially vulnerable young people who may prefer to think that the experience was not enjoyable because the drugs were not good – ‘it was a bad pill’.
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- Section 1 The Subject Matter of and Approach to Psychiatry
- 1.3 Psychiatry as a worldwide public health problem
- 1.4 The history of psychiatry as a medical specialty
- 1.5 Ethics and values
- 1.6 The psychiatrist as a manager
- 1.7 Descriptive phenomenology
- 1.8 Assessment
- 1.9 Diagnosis and classification
- 1.10 From science to practice
- Section 2 The Scientific Basis of Psychiatric Aetiology
- 2.3 The contribution of neurosciences
- 2.4 The contribution of genetics
- 2.5 The contribution of psychological science
- 2.6 The contribution of social sciences
- 2.7 The contribution of epidemiology to psychiatric aetiology
- Section 3 Psychodynamic Contributions to Psychiatry
- Section 4 Clinical Syndromes of Adult Psychiatry
- 4.1 Delirium, dementia, amnesia, and other cognitive disorders
- 4.2 Substance use disorders
- 4.2.1 Pharmacological and psychological aspects of drugs abuse
- 4.2.2 Alcohol use disorders
- 4.2.3 Other substance use disorders
- 4.2.3.1 Opioids: heroin, methadone, and buprenorphine
- 4.2.3.2 Disorders relating to the use of amphetamine and cocaine
- 4.2.3.3 Disorders relating to use of PCP and hallucinogens
- 4.2.3.4 Misuse of benzodiazepines
- 4.2.3.5 Disorders relating to the use of ecstasy and other ‘party drugs’
- 4.2.3.6 Disorders relating to the use of volatile substances
- 4.2.3.7 The mental health effects of cannabis use
- 4.2.3.8 Nicotine dependence and treatment
- 4.2.4 Assessing need and organizing services for drug misuse problems
- 4.3 Schizophrenia and acute transient psychotic disorders
- 4.3.6 Aetiology
- 4.3.7 Course and outcome of schizophrenia and their prediction
- 4.3.8 Treatment and management of schizophrenia
- 4.3.9 Schizoaffective and schizotypal disorders
- 4.3.10 Acute and transient psychotic disorders
- 4.4 Persistent delusional symptoms and disorders
- 4.5 Mood disorders
- 4.6 Stress-related and adjustment disorders
- 4.7 Anxiety disorders
- Section 5 Psychiatry and Medicine
- Section 6 Treatment Methods in Psychiatry
- 6.2 Somatic treatments
- Section 7 Social Psychiatry and Service Provision
- Section 8 The Psychiatry of Old Age
- Section 9 Child and Adolescent Psychiatry