Amphetamine Dependence

1. Amphetamine (or similar stimulant) abuse: A destructive pattern of amphetamine (or similar stimulant) use, leading to significant social, occupational, or medical impairment.
2. Must have three (or more) of the following, occurring when the amphetamine (or similar stimulant) use was at its worst:
   1. Amphetamine (or similar stimulant) tolerance:
      Either need for markedly increased amounts of amphetamine (or similar stimulant) to achieve intoxication, or markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of amphetamine (or similar stimulant).
   2. Amphetamine (or similar stimulant) withdrawal symptoms:
      Either (a) or (b).

      (a)Two (or more) of the following, developing within several hours to a few days of reduction in heavy or prolonged amphetamine (or similar stimulant) use:

      • sweating or rapid pulse
      • increased hand tremor
      • insomnia
      • nausea or vomiting
      • physical agitation
      • anxiety
      • transient visual, tactile, or auditory hallucinations or illusions
      • grand mal seizures

      (b)Amphetamine (or similar stimulant) is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms.

   1. Greater use of amphetamine (or similar stimulant) than intended:
      Amphetamine (or similar stimulant) was often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended
   2. Unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control amphetamine (or similar stimulant) use:
      Persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control amphetamine (or similar stimulant) use
   3. Great deal of time spent in using amphetamine (or similar stimulant), or recovering from hangovers
   4. Amphetamine (or similar stimulant) caused reduction in social, occupational or recreational activities:
      Important social, occupational, or recreational activities given up or reduced because of amphetamine (or similar stimulant) use.
   5. Continued using amphetamine (or similar stimulant) despite knowing it caused significant problems:
      Continued amphetamine (or similar stimulant) use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been worsened by amphetamine (or similar stimulant)

• Learning Problem
• Psychosis
• Euphoric Mood
• Depressed Mood
• Somatic or Sexual Dysfunction
• Hyperactivity
• Addiction
• Odd or Eccentric or Suspicious Personality
• Dramatic or Erratic or Antisocial Personality

Some disorders display similar or sometimes even the same symptom. The clinician, therefore, in his diagnostic attempt has to differentiate against the following disorders which one needs to be ruled out to establish a precise diagnosis.

• Nonpathologic stimulant use for recreational or medical purposes;
• Repeated episodes of Amphetamine Intoxication.