Behavioral Patterns of Psychiatric Patients Using Synthetic Cannabinoids
Journal of Addiction Research February 7, 2017
Synthetic cannabinoid use is rising in inner urban U.S. communities due to easy accessibility despite Schedule I classification. These substances can cause medical and psychiatric effects including vomiting, tachycardia, seizures, auditory hallucinations, aggressive behavior, and increased impulsivity. A retrospective case-control study of patients admitted to an inpatient psychiatric service over 7 months who reported smoking synthetic cannabinoids aimed to explore clinical risk factors, aggressive behavior during hospitalization, and whether use increases hospitalization duration. The authors highlight the need for further research to manage this patient population, noting that synthetic cannabinoid screening is not readily available and intoxication is diagnosed clinically.