Psychological Disorders: Phencyclidine Dependence American
Description
Phencyclidine
tolerance: Greater
use of phencyclidine than intended: Unsuccessful
efforts to cut down or control phencyclidine use: Phencyclidine
caused reduction in social, occupational or recreational activities:
Continued
using phencyclidine despite knowing it caused significant problems:
European
Description Diagnostic
Guidelines (a) a strong desire or sense of compulsion to take phencyclidine; (b) difficulties in controlling phencyclidine-taking behaviour in terms of its onset, termination, or levels of use; (c) a physiological withdrawal state when phencyclidine use has ceased or been reduced, as evidenced by: the characteristic withdrawal syndrome for phencyclidine; or use of the same (or a closely related) substance with the intention of relieving or avoiding withdrawal symptoms; (d) evidence of tolerance, such that increased doses of phencyclidine are required in order to achieve effects originally produced by lower doses; (e) progressive neglect of alternative pleasures or interests because of phencyclidine use, increased amount of time necessary to obtain or take the substance or to recover from its effects; (f) persisting with phencyclidine use despite clear evidence of overtly harmful consequences, such as depressive mood states consequent to periods of heavy substance use, or drug-related impairment of cognitive functioning; efforts should be made to determine that the user was actually, or could be expected to be, aware of the nature and extent of the harm. Narrowing of the personal repertoire of patterns of phencyclidine use has also been described as a characteristic feature. It is an essential characteristic of the dependence syndrome that either phencyclidine taking or a desire to take phencyclidine should be present; the subjective awareness of compulsion to use drugs is most commonly seen during attempts to stop or control substance use. |