Methamphetamine Use Disorder Diagnosis and Classification

Diagnostic Criteria

• The American Psychiatric Association recommends that a diagnosis of methamphetamine use disorder be made based on at least 2 out of 11 criteria within a 12-month period 1, 2, 3
• The diagnosis of methamphetamine use disorder follows the DSM-5 substance use disorder criteria, which includes impaired control, social impairment, risky use, and pharmacological criteria such as tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, and craving 1, 2

Severity Classification

• The American Psychiatric Association classifies methamphetamine use disorder as mild (2-3 criteria met), moderate (4-5 criteria met), or severe (6 or more criteria met), with each classification indicating a different level of functional impairment and loss of control over use 4

Course Specifiers

• The American Psychiatric Association recommends documenting the clinical course of methamphetamine use disorder, including early remission (≥3 months but <12 months without meeting criteria), sustained remission (≥12 months without meeting criteria), and use in a controlled environment or on maintenance therapy 1, 4

Comorbidities and Polysubstance Use

• The American Psychiatric Association notes that polysubstance use is prevalent among individuals with methamphetamine use disorder, and recommends assessing for other substance use disorders 2, 5
• The American Psychiatric Association also notes that substance-induced psychotic symptoms should resolve within 4 weeks of abstinence, and that persistence beyond this suggests an independent psychotic disorder 6