Impulse control disorder induced by other specified psychoactive substance

Essential (Required) Features:

• The presentation is characterized by persistently repeated behaviours in which there is recurrent failure to resist an impulse, drive, or urge to perform an act that is rewarding to the person, at least in the short-term, despite longer-term harm either to the individual or to others (e.g., fire setting or stealing without apparent motive, repetitive sexual behaviour, aggressive outbursts), or by behaviours similar to those seen in Disorders Due to Addictive Behaviours (i.e., excessive gambling or gaming).
• The disturbance in impulse control develops during or soon after intoxication with or withdrawal from other specified psychoactive substance use or discontinuation of a psychoactive medication.
• The intensity or duration of the disturbance in impulse control is substantially in excess of impulse control disturbances that are characteristic of intoxication or withdrawal due to the other specified psychoactive substance.
• The symptoms and behaviours are not better accounted for by another mental disorder such as an Impulse Control Disorder or a Disorder Due to Addictive Behaviours. Evidence supporting a diagnosis of another mental disorder would include an impulse control disturbance preceding the onset of the substance use, the disturbance persisting for a substantial period of time after cessation of other specified psychoactive substance or medication use or withdrawal (e.g., 1 month or more), or other evidence of a pre-existing mental disorder with impulse control disturbance (e.g., a history of prior episodes not associated with other specified psychoactive substance use).
• The symptoms and behaviours are not a manifestation of another medical condition.
• The symptoms cause significant distress or significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning.

When making a diagnosis of Impulse Control Disorder induced by Other Specified Psychoactive Substance, an additional diagnosis indicating the related pattern of other specified psychoactive substance use should also be assigned. These include Episode of Harmful Use of Other Specified Psychoactive Substances, Harmful Pattern of Use of Other Specified Psychoactive Substances, and Other Specified Psychoactive Substance Dependence. A diagnosis of Other Specified Psychoactive Substance Intoxication or Other Specified Psychoactive Substance Withdrawal may also be assigned if applicable.

Additional Clinical Features:

• Impulse Control Disorder induced by Other Specified Psychoactive Substance may present with patterns of symptoms, depending on the specific substance used, that vary according to the characteristics of the user (e.g., genetics, metabolism, personality factors). Other Specified Psychoactive Substance use in higher amounts or over longer periods of time is more likely to be associated with the development of an Impulse Control Disorder induced by Other Specified Psychoactive Substance.
• Symptoms of Impulse Control Disorder induced by Other Specified Psychoactive Substance usually resolve or improve after sustained cessation of other specified psychoactive substance use.
• The duration of Substance Withdrawal for some substances can be protracted. For substances with more protracted withdrawal periods, the onset of symptoms of Substance-Induced Impulse Control Disorder can occur up to several weeks after the cessation of substance use. Substance-Induced Impulse Control Disorder symptoms related to substances with more protracted withdrawal periods may also last for correspondingly longer periods of time.
• In cases in which multiple psychoactive substance are used, it is often challenging to distinguish which substance is the cause of the Substance-Induced Impulse Control Disorder. When the specific etiological substance cannot be determined, a diagnosis of Substance-Induced Impulse Control Disorder Due to Multiple Specified Psychoactive Substances including Medications may assigned. In cases of multiple psychoactive substance use in which more than one specific substance can be identified as a cause of the Substance-Induced Impulse Control Disorder, the corresponding specific Substance-Induced Impulse Control Disorder diagnoses should be given instead.

Boundary with Normality (Threshold):

• Symptoms of Impulse Control Disorder induced by Other Specified Psychoactive Substances should be differentiated from known side effects of psychoactive medication that are not significantly impairing or distressing and from transient physiological aftereffects of intoxication (‘hangover effect’). The duration or severity of the symptoms in Impulse Control Disorder induced by Other Specified Psychoactive Substances must be in excess of side effects (e.g., transient jitteriness as a side effect of methylphenidate) or ‘hangover effects’ (e.g., transient low mood following alcohol use) of Other Specified Psychoactive Substances and result in significant distress or impairment of functioning.

Boundaries with Other Disorders and Conditions (Differential Diagnosis):

• Boundary with Other Specified Psychoactive Substance Intoxication and Other Specified Psychoactive Substance Withdrawal: Mental or behavioural symptoms that occur during Other Specified Psychoactive Substance Intoxication or Other Specified Psychoactive Substance Withdrawal should only be used as a basis for diagnosing an Impulse Control Disorder induced by Other Specified Psychoactive Substance if the intensity or duration of the symptoms is substantially in excess of those that are characteristic of Other Specified Psychoactive Substance Intoxication or Other Specified Psychoactive Substance Withdrawal and the symptoms are sufficiently severe to warrant specific clinical attention.
• Boundary with Episode of Harmful Use of Other Specified Psychoactive Substances, Harmful Pattern of Use of Other Specified Psychoactive Substances, or Other Specified Psychoactive Substance Dependence: The impact of repeated or continuous use of other specified psychoactive substances characteristic of Harmful Pattern of Use of Other Specified Psychoactive Substances and Other Specified Psychoactive Substance Dependence may include Impulse Control Disorder induced by Other Specified Psychoactive Substance. Impulse Control Disorder induced by Other Specified Psychoactive Substances can also be associated with a single episode of other specified psychoactive substance use. In such cases, an Impulse Control Disorder induced by Other Specified Psychoactive Substance should be diagnosed together with a primary diagnosis of Episode of Harmful Use of Other Specified Psychoactive Substances, Harmful Pattern of Use of Other Specified Psychoactive Substances, or Other Specified Psychoactive Substance Dependence.
• Boundary with mental disorders not induced by other specified psychoactive substances: Impulse Control Disorder induced by Other Specified Psychoactive Substances are differentiated from mental disorders with similar features that are not induced by other specified psychoactive substances on the basis of their onset, course and clinical features. A diagnosis of Impulse Control Disorder induced by Other Specified Psychoactive Substance requires evidence from history, physical or mental examination, or laboratory findings of recent other specified psychoactive substance use, intoxication or withdrawal. Most Other Specified Psychoactive Substance-Induced Mental Disorders resolve or improve within several weeks of cessation of other specified psychoactive substance use. Mental disorders not induced by other specified psychoactive substances may precede the onset of other specified psychoactive substance use or may continue to be symptomatic during periods of sustained abstinence. The co-occurrence of other specified psychoactive substance use or withdrawal and onset of symptoms of mental disorders should not be taken as evidence for a presumptive diagnosis of an Impulse Control Disorder induced by Other Specified Psychoactive Substance. Some people use substances to suppress symptoms of mental disorders (e.g., Schizophrenia and Other Primary Psychotic Disorders, Mood Disorders, Anxiety and Fear-Related Disorders, Personality Disorders) and full symptomatic presentations only emerge upon cessation or reduction in substance use. Furthermore, other specified psychoactive substance use can exacerbate symptoms or precipitate an episode of a pre-existing mental disorder. Finally, other specified psychoactive substance use may be associated with but not aetiologic for new onset of symptoms of a mental disorder. Although a diagnosis of an Impulse Control Disorder induced by Other Specified Psychoactive Substance should not be assigned under these circumstances, an additional diagnosis of Episode of Harmful Use of Other Specified Psychoactive Substances, Harmful Pattern of Use of Other Specified Psychoactive Substances, or Other Specified Psychoactive Substance Dependence may still be appropriate.