Skip to main content

Drug-Induced Psychosis

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Psychiatry ((CCPSY))

Abstract

A wide variety of drugs can cause psychosis that is transient once the drug is removed. Some drugs cause such a transient, drug-induced psychosis in most people who take them (e.g., LSD and PCP), and other drugs cause psychosis only in a minority of susceptible patients (e.g., cannabis). This chapter reviews common drugs associated with psychosis: alcohol and sedative (during intoxication and withdrawal), cannabis, stimulants, LSD and hallucinogens, and PCP. The difficulties in making a diagnosis of drug-induced psychosis vis-à-vis a primary psychotic disorder are discussed, particularly as more potent designer drugs are easily available today, and psychosis can be prolonged. The public health ramifications of high-potency cannabis as a risk factor for schizophrenia are emphasized.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. The-Philosophy.com. Jim Morrison Available from: https://www.the-philosophy.com/jim-morrison-quotes. Accessed on 7/1/2019.

  2. Feduccia AA, Holland J, Mithoefer MC. Progress and promise for the MDMA drug development program. Psychopharmacology. 2018;235:561–71.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Grunebaum MF, Galfalvy HC, Choo TH, Keilp JG, Moitra VK, Parris MS, et al. Ketamine for rapid reduction of suicidal thoughts in major depression: a midazolam-controlled randomized clinical trial. Am J Psychiatry. 2018;175:327–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Tarabar AF, Nelson LS. The gamma-hydroxybutyrate withdrawal syndrome. Toxicol Rev. 2004;23:45–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Martinak B, Bolis RA, Black JR, Fargason RE, Birur B. Dextromethorphan in cough syrup: the poor man’s psychosis. Psychopharmacol Bull. 2017;47:59–63.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Mustonen A, Niemela S, McGrath JJ, Murray GK, Nordstrom T, Maki P, et al. Adolescent inhalant use and psychosis risk – a prospective longitudinal study. Schizophr Res. 2018;201:360–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Adorjan K, Odenwald M, Widmann M, Tesfaye M, Tessema F, Toennes S, et al. Khat use and occurrence of psychotic symptoms in the general male population in Southwestern Ethiopia: evidence for sensitization by traumatic experiences. World Psychiatry. 2017;16:323.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Huestis MA, Tyndale RF. Designer drugs 2.0. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2017;101:152–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Starzer MSK, Nordentoft M, Hjorthoj C. Rates and predictors of conversion to schizophrenia or bipolar disorder following substance-induced psychosis. Am J Psychiatry. 2018;175:343–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Caton CL, Drake RE, Hasin DS, Dominguez B, Shrout PE, Samet S, et al. Differences between early-phase primary psychotic disorders with concurrent substance use and substance-induced psychoses. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005;62:137–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Caton CL, Hasin DS, Shrout PE, Drake RE, Dominguez B, Samet S, et al. Predictors of psychosis remission in psychotic disorders that co-occur with substance use. Schizophr Bull. 2006;32:618–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Harris D, Batki SL. Stimulant psychosis: symptom profile and acute clinical course. Am J Addict. 2000;9:28–37.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. McCain CF, Namey LB, Freudenreich O. Lamotrigine cross-reactivity with phencyclidine in rapid urine toxicology in a research study. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2018;20(4) pii. 17l02192.

    Google Scholar 

  14. van Harten PN, van Trier JC, Horwitz EH, Matroos GE, Hoek HW. Cocaine as a risk factor for neuroleptic-induced acute dystonia. J Clin Psychiatry. 1998;59:128–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Tsuang JW, Irwin MR, Smith TL, Schuckit MA. Characteristics of men with alcoholic hallucinosis. Addiction. 1994;89:73–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Soyka M, Naber G, Volcker A. Prevalence of delusional jealousy in different psychiatric disorders. An analysis of 93 cases. Br J Psychiatry. 1991;158:549–53.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Isenberg-Grzeda E, Kutner HE, Nicolson SE. Wernicke-Korsakoff-syndrome: under-recognized and under-treated. Psychosomatics. 2012;53:507–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Freund SA, Banning AS. Synthetic cannabinoids: a review of the clinical implications of a new drug of choice. JAAPA. 2017;30:1–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Drummer OH, Gerostamoulos D, Woodford NW. Cannabis as a cause of death: a review. Forensic Sci Int. 2019;298:298–306.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Marconi A, Di Forti M, Lewis CM, Murray RM, Vassos E. Meta-analysis of the association between the level of cannabis use and risk of psychosis. Schizophr Bull. 2016;42:1262–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Andreasson S, Allebeck P, Engstrom A, Rydberg U. Cannabis and schizophrenia. A longitudinal study of Swedish conscripts. Lancet. 1987;2:1483–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Di Forti M, Quattrone D, Freeman TP, Tripoli G, Gayer-Anderson C, Quigley H, et al. The contribution of cannabis use to variation in the incidence of psychotic disorder across Europe (EU-GEI): a multicentre case-control study. Lancet Psychiatry. 2019;6:427–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. D'Souza DC, Abi-Saab WM, Madonick S, Forselius-Bielen K, Doersch A, Braley G, et al. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol effects in schizophrenia: implications for cognition, psychosis, and addiction. Biol Psychiatry. 2005;57:594–608.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Murray RM, Quigley H, Quattrone D, Englund A, Di Forti M. Traditional marijuana, high-potency cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids: increasing risk for psychosis. World Psychiatry. 2016;15:195–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Arunogiri S, Foulds JA, McKetin R, Lubman DI. A systematic review of risk factors for methamphetamine-associated psychosis. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2018;52:514–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Tang Y, Martin NL, Cotes RO. Cocaine-induced: psychotic disorders presentation, mechanism, and management. J Dual Diagn. 2014;10:98–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Freudenreich O, Cather C, Holt D. Stimulant misuse in college for “pseudo-attention deficit disorder” during schizophrenia prodrome. Am J Psychiatry. 2006;163:2019.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Moran LV, Ongur D, Hsu J, Castro VM, Perlis RH, Schneeweiss S. Psychosis with methylphenidate or amphetamine in patients with ADHD. N Engl J Med. 2019;380:1128–38.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Brewer JD, Meves A, Bostwick JM, Hamacher KL, Pittelkow MR. Cocaine abuse: dermatologic manifestations and therapeutic approaches. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008;59:483–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. The Guardian. Basel in the spotlight: the city that learned to love LSD. 2018 Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/apr/19/basel-in-the-spotlight-the-city-that-learned-to-love-lsd-albert-hofmann. Accessed on 7/1/2019.

  31. Barrett FS, Griffiths RR. Classic hallucinogens and mystical experiences: phenomenology and neural correlates. Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 2018;36:393–430.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Martinotti G, Santacroce R, Pettorruso M, Montemitro C, Spano MC, Lorusso M, et al. Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder: etiology, clinical features, and therapeutic perspectives. Brain Sci. 2018;8

    Google Scholar 

  33. Sanacora G, Frye MA, McDonald W, Mathew SJ, Turner MS, Schatzberg AF, et al. A consensus statement on the use of ketamine in the treatment of mood disorders. JAMA Psychiatry. 2017;74:399–405.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Canuso CM, Singh JB, Fedgchin M, Alphs L, Lane R, Lim P, et al. Efficacy and safety of intranasal esketamine for the rapid reduction of symptoms of depression and suicidality in patients at imminent risk for suicide: results of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Am J Psychiatry. 2018;175:620–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Baldridge EB, Bessen HA. Phencyclidine. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 1990;8:541–50.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Freudenreich O, Brown HE, Holt DJ. Psychosis and schizophrenia. In: Stern TA, Fava M, Wilens TE, Rosenbaum JF, editors. Massachusetts General Hospital comprehensive clinical psychiatry. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2016. p. 307–23.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Dubovsky AN, Arvikar S, Stern TA, Axelrod L. The neuropsychiatric complications of glucocorticoid use: steroid psychosis revisited. Psychosomatics. 2012;53:103–15.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Additional Resources

    Web Sites

    Books

    • Huxley A. The doors of perception. New York: Harper & Brothers; 1954. – The English writer Huxley describes his psychedelic experiences under mescaline. His philosophical insights make this book worth reading today, particularly as psychiatry rediscovers the therapeutic values of mind-altering drugs. While you may never use psychedelic substances yourself, the book may open your mind (sorry about this pun which is intended) to the limits of day-to-day experiences.

      Google Scholar 

    Articles

    • Murray RM, Quigley H, Quattrone D, Englund A, Di Forti M. Traditional marijuana, high-potency cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids: increasing risk for psychosis. World Psychiatry. 2016;15:195–204. – A good overview over the changes in potency of cannabis products and the unresolved public health questions.

      Article  Google Scholar 

    • Nour MM, Carhart-Harris RL. Psychedelics and the science of self-experience. Br J Psychiatry. 2017;210:177–9. – A topic that I did not cover in detail: the therapeutic use of currently mostly illicit psychedelic substances. Psilocybin for example is being tested for use in cancer patients with depression and existential concerns.

      Article  Google Scholar 

    Download references

    Author information

    Authors and Affiliations

    Authors

    Rights and permissions

    Reprints and permissions

    Copyright information

    © 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

    About this chapter

    Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

    Cite this chapter

    Freudenreich, O. (2020). Drug-Induced Psychosis. In: Psychotic Disorders. Current Clinical Psychiatry. Humana, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29450-2_4

    Download citation

    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29450-2_4

    • Published:

    • Publisher Name: Humana, Cham

    • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-29449-6

    • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-29450-2

    • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

    Publish with us

    Policies and ethics