Although many mental disorders have a genetic root that causes chemical imbalances in the brain, mental disorders or symptoms resembling mental disorders can also result from environmental stressors, including certain ingested or inhaled substances. Numerous drugs can also cause these types of side effects. So patients should consult their physicians if they have any questions.
Alcohol
Both the excessive intake of alcohol and withdrawal from alcohol can lead to symptoms that resemble mental illness, according to the American Psychiatric Association. Alcohol intoxication and withdrawal can lead to depression, anxiety and psychotic disorders. An alcohol-induced psychotic disorder presents with prominent hallucinations and delusions that occur directly as the result of alcohol, usually occurring within a month of intoxication or withdrawal, according to the St. Louis Psychologists and Counseling Information website. The psychotic symptoms tend to subside within several weeks of abstinence from alcohol, although in rare cases, the psychotic condition may become chronic, necessitating the use of anti-psychotic medication.
Alcohol also causes mood disorders, usually after heavy drinking. The mood disorder can take the form of depressed mood or apathy, or the other end of the spectrum, mania, as characterized by elevated or irritable mood. The St. Louis Psychologists Information website reports that although a low mood may commonly occur after withdrawal from alcohol, an alcohol-induced mood disorder is only diagnosed when the mood changes persist for an extended duration, necessitating the care of a clinician. If alcohol-induced depression symptoms persist, clinicians recommend close monitoring for occurrence of suicidal thoughts or gestures.
Recreational Drugs
Numerous street drugs and other drugs used for recreational purposes can cause a variety of mental disorders, most commonly mood disorders, anxiety disorders and psychotic disorders, according to the American Psychiatric Association.
Recreational drugs that can induce mood disorders include amphetamines such as "speed," inhalants like gasoline and spray paint, cocaine, marijuana, heroin and hallucinogens like LSD, according to the Summit Medical Group.
Anxiety and psychotic disorders can both result from use of amphetamines, marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants and phencyclidine, or PCP, according to the American Psychiatric Association.
Medications
As reported on WrongDiagnosis.com, medications that can cause mood disorders include: antihypertensives such as clonidine, cimetidine, anticonvulsants like clonazepam, steroids, oral contraceptives, anti-inflammatories and medications for Parkinson's disease like l-dopa.
Medications that may induce anxiety include: bronchodilators used for asthma, medicines for Parkinson's disease such as l-dopa, insulin to treat diabetes, birth control pills and decongestants, according to the Summit Medical Group website.
Some medicines can also lead to psychotic symptoms, like hallucinations and delusions. As catalogued on MercyBehavioral.org, these medicines include anesthetics, pain-relievers, anticonvulsants, antihistimines, cardiovascular medications, drugs for Parkinson's disease, chemotherapy agents, corticosteroids, muscle relaxants and antidepressants.
References
- WrongDiagnosis: Causes of Substance Induced Mood Disorder
- St. Louis Psychologists and Counseling Information and Referral: Alcohol Induced Psychotic and Mood Disorders
- "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders"; American Psychiatric Association; 2000.
- Summit Medical Group: Substance-Induced Anxiety Disorder
- Summit Medical Group: Substance-Induced Mood Disorder
