Severe Psychosis, Drug Dependence, and Hepatitis C Related to Slamming Mephedrone

Background. Synthetic cathinones (SCs), also known as “bath salts,” are β-ketone amphetamine compounds derived from cathinone, a psychoactive substance found in Catha edulis. Mephedrone is the most representative SC. Slamming is the term used for the intravenous injection of these substances in the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Case reports in psychiatry 2016-01, Vol.2016 (2016), p.1-5
Main Authors: Sánchez-Mateos, Daniel, Gómez-Arnau, Jorge, Rodríguez-Salgado, Beatriz, Dolengevich-Segal, Helen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alcohol
Amphetamines
Antipsychotic drugs
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Bath products
Case Report
Child development
Cocaine
Dependence
Drug abuse
Drug therapy
Emergency medical care
Hallucinations
Hepatitis
Hepatitis C
HIV
Hospitals
Human immunodeficiency virus
Infections
Mens health
Methamphetamine
Nightclubs
Paranoia
Psychosis
Sexual behavior
Sexually transmitted diseases
STD
Viral infections
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Summary:Background. Synthetic cathinones (SCs), also known as “bath salts,” are β-ketone amphetamine compounds derived from cathinone, a psychoactive substance found in Catha edulis. Mephedrone is the most representative SC. Slamming is the term used for the intravenous injection of these substances in the context of chemsex parties, in order to enhance sex experiences. Using IV mephedrone may lead to diverse medical and psychiatric complications like psychosis, aggressive behavior, and suicide ideation. Case. We report the case of a 25-year-old man admitted into a psychiatric unit, presenting with psychotic symptoms after slamming mephedrone almost every weekend for the last 4 months. He presents paranoid delusions, intense anxiety, and visual and kinesthetic hallucinations. He also shows intense craving, compulsive drug use, general malaise, and weakness. After four weeks of admission and antipsychotic treatment, delusions completely disappear. The patient is reinfected with hepatitis C. Discussion. Psychiatric and medical conditions related to chemsex and slamming have been reported in several European cities, but not in Spain. Psychotic symptoms have been associated with mephedrone and other SCs’ consumption, with the IV route being prone to produce more severe symptomatology and addictive conducts. In the case we report, paranoid psychosis, addiction, and medical complications are described.
ISSN:2090-682X
2090-6838
DOI:10.1155/2016/8379562