Clinical typology of psychopathological disorders in users of synthetic cannabinoids (spice)

The article presents the data describing the clinic of psychotic states caused by use of synthetic cannabinoids (“spice”), leading to hospitalization to the psychiatric ward, and the results of psychological testing, showing personality changes, we observe in patients in the hospital. Options of psychopharmacotherapy of described psychotic states caused by use of synthetic cannabinoids are shown. It was found that use can trigger transient psychotic episodes (acute intoxication with delirium, residual and long-term psychotic states similar to flashback, withdrawal state with delirium, psychotic states, predominantly hallucinatory) and can serve as a predisposing factor for development of paranoid schizophrenia, continuous type. The use of synthetic cannabinoids (“Spice”) leads to exacerbated schizoid, paranoid and psychopathic personality traits, what was confirmed by psychological examination of patients. We identified four types of the course of intoxication caused by the use of “spice”: delirium-like, schizophrenia-like, with predominance of hearing pseudo/hallucinations, with predominance of delusional symptoms. One-time use of “spice” and alcohol causes symptoms similar to arterial hypotension. Patients who use synthetic cannabinoids, should be attributed to section F12 “Mental and behavioral disorders due to use of cannabinoids” (according to ICD-10), with indication “synthetic cannabinoids/spice”.