Am J Psychiatry

High doses of amphetamine may increase risk of developing psychosis

September 16, 2024

Patients with a past-month prescription for amphetamines had a higher risk of developing psychosis or mania compared with those without past-month exposure. Moreover, high-dose amphetamines (>30 mg) had a 5-fold increased risk of developing psychosis or mania.

• Electronic health records were used to compare the odds of incident psychosis or mania with past-month exposure to prescription amphetamines in patients ages 16 to 35 hospitalized at McLean Hospital between 2005 and 2019. Control subjects were patients with an initial psychiatric hospitalization for other reasons, most commonly depression and/or anxiety.
• Among 1,374 case subjects and 2,748 control subjects, the odds of psychosis and mania were increased for individuals with past-month prescription amphetamine use compared with no use (adjusted odds ratio, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.90-3.77).
• A dose-response relationship was observed; high doses of amphetamines (>30 mg dextroamphetamine equivalents) were associated with 5.28-fold increased odds of psychosis or mania. Past-month methylphenidate use wasn't associated with increased odds of psychosis or mania.

Source:

Moran LV, et al. (2024, September 12). Am J Psychiatry. Risk of Incident Psychosis and Mania With Prescription Amphetamines. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39262211/