Substance induced mental disorders

 

The use of a psychoactive substance can have either a temporary or a permanent effect on a user’s mental state which can result in a substance induced mental disorder. The effects can be severe, but are usually temporary, however, the central nervous system (CNS) can be affected for long term.

 

The disorder tends to develop within a month of substance intoxication or withdrawal symptoms and does not occur exclusively during the “high”.

 

Sedating drugs tend to cause depressive disorder during intoxication and anxiety during withdrawal, whereas, stimulating substances can cause psychosis and anxiety during intoxication and depressive episodes during withdrawal. Those drugs at opposite ends of the scale e.g. most sedating and most stimulating can also cause sleep disturbance and sexual dysfunction and pre-existing mental disorders can be exacerbated.