CHRONOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION BETWEEN INCREASES IN DRUG-ABUSE AND PSYCHOSIS IN CONNECTICUT STATE HOSPITALS

Disagreement remains as to whether drug use can result in an autonomou s psychotic disorder. If drug use can create new psychosis cases, an i ncrease in the number of psychosis patients ought to be observable fol lowing periods of increased drug use by the general population. First admissions data for the categories of drug abuse and schizophrenia/par anoid disorders from all Connecticut state hospitals from 1965 to 1983 were examined to determine the prevalence of psychotic disorders befo re, during, and after a period of increased drug use by the general po pulation. Affective disorders first admissions were examined for compa rison. A rapid increase in new schizophrenia admissions coincided with a peak period for drug-related admissions. The data suggest that incr eased drug use of the late 1960s may have contributed to the increase noted 3 to 5 years later in first admissions of patients diagnosed wit h psychotic disorders.