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Chronological Association Between Increases in Drug Abuse and Psychosis in Connecticut State Hospitals

Received October 18, 1996; revised February 7, 1997; accepted March 12, 1997. From the Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut. Address correspondence to Dr. Boutros, West Haven Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Psychiatry Service/116A, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT 06516.

Disagreement remains as to whether drug use can result in an autonomous psychotic disorder. If drug use can create new psychosis cases, an increase in the number of psychosis patients ought to be observable following periods of increased drug use by the general population. First admissions data for the categories of drug abuse and schizophrenia/paranoid disorders from all Connecticut state hospitals from 1965 to 1983 were examined to determine the prevalence of psychotic disorders before, during, and after a period of increased drug use by the general population. Affective disorders first admissions were examined for comparison. A rapid increase in new schizophrenia admissions coincided with a peak period for drug-related admissions. The data suggest that increased drug use of the late 1960s may have contributed to the increase noted 3 to 5 years later in first admissions of patients diagnosed with psychotic disorders.

Key Words: Drug Abuse • Schizophrenia • Mood Disorders

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