Distress and sleep quality in young amphetamine-type stimulant users with an affective or psychotic illness. (April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Crouse, Jacob J.; Lee, Rico S.C.; White, Django; Moustafa, Ahmed A.; Hickie, Ian B.; Hermens, Daniel F.
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 262(2018)
• Page Start: 254
• Page End: 261
• Publication Date: 2018-04
• Subjects: Methamphetamine -- MDMA -- Neurocognition -- Youth mental health; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.02.033
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Abstract: Misuse of amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) drugs may disrupt key neurodevelopmental processes in young people and confer protracted neurocognitive and psychopathological harm. ATS users with a co-occurring psychiatric illness are typically excluded from research, reducing generalisability of findings. Accordingly, we conducted a cross-sectional examination of key clinical, sleep, socio-occupational and neurocognitive measures in current, past and never users of ATS drugs who were accessing a youth mental health service ( headspace ) for affective- or psychotic-spectrum illnesses. Contrary to hypotheses, groups did not differ in psychotic symptomology, socio-occupational functioning or neurocognitive performance. Current ATS users were however significantly more distressed and reported poorer subjective sleep quality and greater subjective sleep disturbances than never users, with a trend toward greater depressive symptomology in current users. Regression analyses revealed that depressive symptoms, daily ATS use and socio-occupational functioning predicted distress, and depressive symptoms and distress predicted subjective sleep quality. Our findings suggest that distress and poor sleep quality reflect a particular pathophysiology among ATS-using patients, which may negatively impact treatment engagement. Delineating the factors that disrupt social and neurobiological development in young people (such as substance use) warrants further investigation, including longitudinal study. Highlights: Current ATS users were more psychologically distressed than never users. Current ATS users reported poorer subjective sleep quality than never users. No differences in functioning, psychotic symptoms or neurocognition were observed. Distress and poor sleep may impact treatment efficacy; therefore, substance use intervention is vital.