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Clinical Atlas Prestige · Evidence-first

Psych VivasAddiction psychiatry — stimulant and methamphetamine use

Psych Vivas · Addiction psychiatry — stimulant and methamphetamine use

Stimulant and methamphetamine use — structured clinical viva

Fellowship viva on methamphetamine intoxication/MAP, cardiovascular risk, withdrawal myths, contingency management, limited pharmacotherapy, and communication.

clinical
On this page & tools

Target exams

FRANZCPMRCPsychABPNMD-DNB

Target exams

FRANZCPMRCPsychABPNMD-DNB
Prompt
You are the psychiatry registrar in ED. A 28-year-old woman has used crystal methamphetamine for five days. She is agitated but orientated, tachycardic, BP 168/98, afebrile. She believes police microphones are in the walls. Her partner asks: (1) Is this schizophrenia forever? (2) Can she have a tablet that replaces ice like methadone replaces heroin? (3) Will she have dangerous fits when she stops? (4) What actually works? Discuss assessment, MAP, CV risk, withdrawal, evidence-based treatment and dual diagnosis.

Interpretation

Reveal interpretation

Assessment spine. Medical first: BP/HR already abnormal — ECG, consider troponin if chest symptoms, temperature, glucose, CK; exclude evolving ACS and other medical crises. Substance timeline (route, binge length, last use, polysubstance), MSE with examples, risk (violence, suicide as she crashes), capacity/legal principles, collateral, dual-diagnosis screen.[1][4]

"Schizophrenia forever?" Working diagnosis: methamphetamine-associated psychosis with clear consciousness. Dose-related psychotic symptoms are recognised. Label evolves with abstinence course; treat now; avoid fatalism and avoid complacency.[1]

"Tablet like methadone?" Honest answer: no licensed methadone-equivalent standard for methamphetamine. Psychosocial treatments are first-line. Selected options (mirtazapine 30 mg nocte in trials; naltrexone XR 380 mg IM q3 weeks + bupropion XL 450 mg daily in ADAPT-2) may be considered in specialist contexts — not universal cure pills.[1][2]

"Dangerous fits when she stops?" Withdrawal typically features crash and dysphoria peaking around day 2, improving over 1–2 weeks — not alcohol-like seizure syndrome as the defining threat. Still plan for suicide risk and CV complications of use itself.[3][4]

"What works?" Contingency management, CBT/CRA/Matrix multi-element care, harm reduction, integrated dual diagnosis, short-course antipsychotic if dangerous psychosis persists, housing and sexual health. Name CM specifically.[5]

Key points

Medical before mental health label

Hypertension, tachycardia and chest symptoms force cardiac thinking alongside MAP care.

No methadone equivalent

Psychosocial first; limited pharmacotherapy with accurate doses only if claimed.

Name contingency management

Strongest psychosocial signal for stimulant outcomes in viva answers.
[1] [5]

References

  1. [1]ASAM/AAAP Clinical Guideline Committee The ASAM/AAAP Clinical Practice Guideline on the Management of Stimulant Use Disorder J Addict Med, 2024.PMID 38669101
  2. [2]Trivedi MH, Walker R, Ling W, et al. Bupropion and Naltrexone in Methamphetamine Use Disorder N Engl J Med, 2021.PMID 33497547
  3. [3]McGregor C, Srisurapanont M, Jittiwutikarn J, et al. The nature, time course and severity of methamphetamine withdrawal Addiction, 2005.PMID 16128721
  4. [4]Kevil CG, Goeders NE, Woolard MD, et al. Methamphetamine Use and Cardiovascular Disease Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, 2019.PMID 31433698
  5. [5]Pfund RA, Ginley MK, Boness CL, et al. Contingency Management for Drug Use Disorders: Meta-Analysis and Application of Tolin's Criteria Clin Psychol (New York), 2024.PMID 38863566