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Methamphetamine use and psychotic symptoms: findings from a New Zealand longitudinal birth cohort

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 June 2021

Joseph M. Boden Open the ORCID record for Joseph M. Boden [Opens in a new window] ,
James A. Foulds Open the ORCID record for James A. Foulds [Opens in a new window] ,
Giles Newton-Howes Open the ORCID record for Giles Newton-Howes [Opens in a new window]  and
Rebecca McKetin Open the ORCID record for Rebecca McKetin [Opens in a new window]
Joseph M. Boden*
Affiliation:
Christchurch Health and Development Study, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand
James A. Foulds
Affiliation:
Christchurch Health and Development Study, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand
Giles Newton-Howes
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
Rebecca McKetin
Affiliation:
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
*
Author for correspondence: Joseph M. Boden, E-mail: joseph.boden@otago.ac.nz
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Abstract

Background

This study examined the association between methamphetamine use and psychotic symptoms in a New Zealand general population birth cohort (n = 1265 at birth).

Methods

At age 18, 21, 25, 30, and 35, participants reported on their methamphetamine use and psychotic symptoms in the period since the previous interview. Generalized estimating equations modelled the association between methamphetamine use and psychotic symptoms (percentage reporting any symptom, and number of symptoms per participant). Confounding factors included childhood individual characteristics, family socioeconomic circumstances and family functioning. Long term effects of methamphetamine use on psychotic symptoms were assessed by comparing the incidence of psychotic symptoms at age 30–35 for those with and without a history of methamphetamine use prior to age 30.

Results

After adjusting for confounding factors and time-varying covariate factors including concurrent cannabis use, methamphetamine use was associated with a modest increase in psychosis risk over five waves of data (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–1.72 for the percentage measure; and IRR 1.24, 95% CI 1.02–1.50 for the symptom count measure). The increased risk of psychotic symptoms was concentrated among participants who had used at least weekly at any point (adjusted OR 2.85, 95% CI 1.21–6.69). Use of methamphetamine less than weekly was not associated with increased psychosis risk. We found no evidence for a persistent vulnerability to psychosis in the absence of continuing methamphetamine use.

Conclusion

Methamphetamine use is associated with increased risk of psychotic symptoms in the general population. Increased risk is chiefly confined to people who ever used regularly (at least weekly), and recently.

Keywords

General population cohortlongitudinal studymethamphetaminepsychotic symptomatology
Type
Original Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 53 , Issue 3 , February 2023 , pp. 987 - 994
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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