Abuse of Indigenous Psilocybin Mushrooms: A New Fashion and Some Psychiatric Complications
The British Journal of Psychiatry – June 01, 1978
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Indigenous Psilocybin mushrooms, potent natural hallucinogens, can trigger severe psychiatric emergencies. Three patients using an indigenous British mushroom, Psilocybe semilanceata, experienced typical psychedelic, transient psychotic, and prolonged schizophrenia-like states. Two developed sympathomimetic signs, one case prolonged. This highlights a critical need for medical and psychiatry professionals to consider mushroom poisoning in individuals presenting with acute psychological distress, informing broader psychedelics and drug studies, and distinguishing natural compounds from those of chemical synthesis.
Abstract
Summary The use for hallucinogenic purposes of an indigenous mushroom, Psilocybe semilanceata indigenous to Britain is reported in three patients. Typical psychedelic, transient psychotic and more prolonged schizophrenia-like states were seen, with sympathomimetic signs noted in two cases, in one being prolonged. Enquiry about such mushroom abuse should be considered in individuals presenting to medical or psychiatric emergency clinics.