Spice plants induced psychosis-case presentation

• Published in: European psychiatry Vol. 26; no. S2; p. 30
• Main Authors: Nagy, H., Buftea, L., Domokos, L., Mihai, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-03-2011
• ISSN: 0924-9338; 1778-3585
• DOI: 10.1016/S0924-9338(11)71741-2

Spice shops, selling ethnobotanical plants like Salvia divinorum, Mitragina speciosa, Amanita muscaria and others, have become very numerous in Romania, first of all because they are legal, second of all because more and more young people are tempted to experiment new sensations. These plants can cause different psychiatric illnesses and associating theme with alcohol or drugs can also be fatal.
Our objective was to present the case of a 25 year old male patient consulted at emergency service, and admitted in our department, presenting psychomotor agitation, anxiety and the specific elements of a psychotic episode, delusions and hallucinations, after smoking a cigarette with sage and night-shade.
The symptomatology remitted rapidly, after approximately 12 hours, revealing the complications of psychoactive substance use.
Conclusions
This case shows the importance of knowledge of psychiatrists concerning the psychoactive substances of ethnobotanical plants, because of their legality and easy procuration possibility. We consider that the role of psychiatrists in mediatizing the side effects of these plants is very important.