Comparison of the Clinical Characteristics of Men with Amphetamine Use Disorders in a Psychiatric Hospital and a Detention Center

　　目的：過去十餘年，安非他命濫用在臺灣明顯增加；然而我們對於勒戒所和社區中安非他命濫用者的了解仍不多。本研究比較勒戒所與精神科專科醫院之男性安非他命濫用者之臨床特徵。方法：以中文版遺傳學研究診斷問卷對於勒戒所及精神科專科醫院男性安非他命濫用進行會談，並比較兩個收案地點患者之精神疾病共病性等臨床特徵。結果：兩組男性安非他命濫用者都有相當高之犯罪率。相較於精神科專科醫院組，勒戒所組男性安非他命使用者使用安非他命劑量較低，使用期間較短，安非他命精神病、酒精使用疾患及反社會人格疾患之比率較低，但是憂鬱症比率較高。結論：勒戒所男性安非他命濫用者之共病精神疾病比精神科專科醫院較低，但並非少見，勒戒所安非他命濫用者應接收共病精神疾病的評估和相關治療。
　　Objective: Amphetamine abuse has been an increase in Taiwan during the past decade. However, little is known about the mental health of these amphetamine abusers, particularly those incarcerated or those in the community. This study compared the clinical characteristics of hospitalized and incarcerated male amphetamine abusers. Methods: The Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Study was administered to male amphetamine abusers from the detoxification unit of a psychiatric hospital and a detention center in Taipei. Psychiatric comorbidity was compared between these two groups. Results: Male amphetamine abusers of both groups commonly committed offenses other than drug use. Compared to their counterpart, incarcerated male amphetamine abusers reported using amphetamine in a lower dose and for a shorter duration. The incarcerated subjects had lower lifetime rates of amphetamine psychosis, alcohol use disorder, conduct disorder and antisocial personality disorder; but had higher rate of major depressive disorder. Conclusions: Mental illnesses are not uncommon among male prisoners with amphetamine use disorder, although they are not as common as among those hospitalized for detoxification in a psychiatric hospital. We suggest that incarcerated amphetamine abusers need evaluation for coexisting psychiatric disorders and relevant psychiatric treatment.