Substance-Induced Disorders 489
of the medications. When symptoms are only  observed during a delirium (e.g., alcohol
withdrawal delirium), the mental disorder sh ould be diagnosed as a delirium, and the
psychiatric syndrome occurring during the delirium should not also be diagnosed sepa-
rately, as many symptoms (including disturba nces in mood, anxiety, and reality testing)
are commonly seen during agitated, confused states. The features associated with each rel-
evant major mental disorder are similar whether observed with independent or sub-
stance/medication-induced mental disorders. However, individuals with substance/
medication-induced mental disorders are lik ely to also demonstrate the associated fea-
tures seen with the specific category of subs tance or medication, as listed in other subsec-
tions of this chapter. 
Development and Course
Substance-induced mental disord ers develop in the context of  intoxication or withdrawal
from substances of abuse, and medication-i nduced mental disorders are seen with pre-
scribed or over-the-counter medications that are taken at the suggest ed doses. Both condi-
tions are usually temporary and li kely to disappear with in 1 month or so of cessation of acute
withdrawal, severe intoxication, or use of th e medication. Exceptions to these generaliza-
tions occur for certain long-d uration substance-in duced disorders: substance-associated
neurocognitive disorders that relate to conditions such as alcohol- induced neurocognitive
disorder, inhalant-induced neurocognitive disord er, and sedative-, hypnotic-, or anxiolytic-
induced neurocognitive disorder; and hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (“flash-
backs”; see the section “Hallucinogen-Related Disorders” later in this chapter). However,