Psychotic disorder induced by multiple specified psychoactive substances

Essential (Required) Features:

• The presentation is characterized by psychotic symptoms (e.g., delusions, hallucinations, or disorganized thinking or behaviour) that develop during or soon after intoxication with or withdrawal from multiple specified psychoactive substances.
• The intensity or duration of the psychotic symptoms is substantially in excess of psychotic-like disturbances of perception, cognition, or behaviour that are characteristic of Multiple Specified Psychoactive Substance Intoxication or Multiple Specified Psychoactive Substance Withdrawal.
• The symptoms are not better accounted for by another mental disorder such as Schizophrenia or a Mood Disorder with psychotic symptoms. Evidence supporting a diagnosis of another mental disorder would include psychotic symptoms preceding the onset of multiple specified psychoactive substance use, the symptoms persisting for a substantial period of time after cessation of multiple specified psychoactive substance use or withdrawal (e.g., 1 month or more), or other evidence of a pre-existing mental disorder with psychotic symptoms (e.g., a history of prior episodes not associated with multiple specified psychoactive substance use).
• The symptoms 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 Psychotic Disorder induced by Multiple Specified Psychoactive Substances, an additional diagnosis indicating the related pattern of use of multiple specified psychoactive substances should also be assigned. These include Episode of Harmful Use of Multiple Specified Psychoactive Substances, Harmful Pattern of Use of Multiple Specified Psychoactive Substances, and Multiple Specified Psychoactive Substances Dependence. A diagnosis of Multiple Specified Psychoactive Substance Intoxication or Multiple Specified Psychoactive Substance Withdrawal may also be assigned if applicable.

Additional Clinical Features for Psychoactive Disorder:

• Psychoactive Disorder Induced by Multiple Specified Psychoactive Substances may present with varying patterns of symptoms, depending on the specific substance used, that vary according to the characteristics of the user (e.g., genetics, metabolism, personality factors). Multiple Specified Psychoactive Substance use in higher amounts or over longer periods of time is more likely to be associated with the development of a Psychoactive Disorder Induced by Multiple Specified Psychoactive Substances.
• Symptoms of Psychoactive Disorder Induced by Multiple Specified Psychoactive Substances usually resolve or improve after sustained cessation of multiple 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 Psychotic Disorder can occur up to several weeks after the cessation of substance use. Substance-Induced Psychotic 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 Psychotic Disorder. When the specific etiological substance cannot be determined, a diagnosis of Substance-Induced Psychotic 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 Psychotic Disorder, the corresponding specific Substance-Induced Psychotic Disorder diagnoses should be given instead.

Boundary with Normality (Threshold) for Psychoactive Disorder:

• Symptoms of Psychoactive Disorder Induced by Multiple 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 Psychoactive Disorder Induced by Multiple 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 Multiple Specified Psychoactive Substances and result in significant distress or impairment of functioning.

Boundaries with Other Disorders and Conditions (Differential Diagnosis):

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