This study extends the findings from other studies that have differentiated between non-substance and substance-induced disorders (Shoptaw et al., 2003; McKetin et al., 2006) and seeks to investigate psychiatric co-morbidities in MA-dependent users without limitation to sexual orientation, criminal record, or somatic comorbidity. The results reported in this study suggest that the prevalence of psychiatric disorders associated with MA use is significant. Across the sample of 189 MA abusers, 23.8% had MA-induced psychotic disorders, 10.6% had mood disorders induced by amphetamines and 3.7% had MA-induced anxiety disorders. Many of the subjects also had primary Axis I disorders not related to substance use. Diagnoses of depression and anxiety were more often not substance-induced, whereas psychotic disorders were more often substance-induced. This finding of a high prevalence of substance-induced psychotic disorders is consistent with McKetin et al as well as the results reported by Shoptaw et al (Shoptaw et al., 2003). In contrast, diagnoses of independent depressive and anxiety disorders among MA abusers seem to be higher than substance induced ones, in both the Shoptaw et al study (Shoptaw et al., 2003) and the current study.
