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Methamphetamine and paranoia: the methamphetamine experience questionnaire.

Martin H Leamon¹, Keith Flower, Ruth E Salo

¹Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, USA. mhleamon@ucdavis.edu

The American Journal on Addictions

|February 19, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Methamphetamine (MA) paranoia is common, with 45% of users experiencing it first with MA. The Methamphetamine Experience Questionnaire (MEQ) reliably assesses MA-induced paranoia and related drug use factors.

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Area of Science:

Psychiatry
Addiction Medicine
Psychopharmacology

Background:

Paranoia is a significant concern in methamphetamine (MA) users, yet its characteristics remain poorly understood.
Developing reliable assessment tools is crucial for understanding and managing MA-induced paranoia.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and validate the Methamphetamine Experience Questionnaire (MEQ) for assessing MA-induced paranoia.
To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of paranoia in MA-dependent individuals.

Main Methods:

The MEQ was administered to 274 MA-dependent subjects.
Reliability was assessed using test-retest and inter-rater agreement (kappa values).
Validity was examined through correlations with the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) paranoid ideation and depression scales.

Main Results:

45% of subjects reported their first episode of paranoia was associated with MA use.
Significant test-retest (kappa = .77) and inter-rater (kappa = .80) reliability were found for MA-induced paranoia.
First paranoia episodes were linked to intravenous MA use, with higher doses associated with subsequent episodes. A modest correlation was observed between MEQ paranoia scores and BSI paranoid ideation (rho = .27).

Conclusions:

The MEQ is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing MA-induced paranoia.
The MEQ provides valuable insights into drug use variables contributing to paranoia in MA users.
Findings highlight the importance of understanding the specific patterns and triggers of paranoia in methamphetamine dependence.