CHRONIC SUBSTANCE INDUCED PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS - STATE OF THE LITERATURE

Whether or not drug use can cause a chronic psychotic disorder that is clinically similar to schizophrenia and related disorders is an impor tant question. In this review, the authors attempt to determine whethe r there is enough evidence in the literature to support the notion tha t illicit drug use can cause chronic psychotic disorders. They conclud e the literature strongly suggests that a number of drugs of abuse in different classes (psychostimulants, hallucinogens, marijuana, and pos sibly industrial inhalants) can cause or increase the susceptibility f or a state of chronic psychosis. It is also likely that the abuse of c ombinations of these drugs is capable of inducing similar syndromes.