[Stimulants : Current insights into the principles, diagnostics and treatment]

Consumption of stimulant drugs, a heterogeneous group of addictive substances, has significantly increased in recent years with rising numbers of stimulant-associated intoxication and deaths.

To provide an overview of recent scientific evidence of the diagnosis and treatment of stimulant use disorders.

A literature review of the neuropathology, clinical presentation, diagnostic criteria and evidence-based treatment for stimulant use disorders.

The chronic use of stimulant drugs is associated with significant physical (e.g., hypertension, tachycardia and dyspnoea) and psychological harm (e.g., dependence, psychotic disorders and affective disorders). Despite major advances in the research of the neuropathology of stimulant use disorder and the refinement of diagnostic criteria, the disorder still presents a challenge, not least because of the lack of effective treatments. There are currently no approved pharmacotherapeutic interventions for stimulant use disorder and meta-analyses show that the efficacy of behavioural interventions is low to moderate, similar to cognitive behavioural treatment.

Despite growing insights into the neuropathology associated with stimulant use disorder, treatment remains a challenge. The lack of effective interventions makes it difficult to give clear recommendations for the clinical practice. Further scientific research is thus warranted.