Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) as a risk factor for psychosis: A systematic review of the literature
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews October 19, 2025 Alessio Mosca, Gianluca Mancusi, Stefania Chiappini et al. 6 citations
Synthetic cannabinoids are the novel psychoactive substances most strongly associated with acute psychosis and, in some cases, persistent or relapsing psychotic disorders. Some cases show symptoms overlapping with schizophrenia, suggesting a possible risk of transition to chronic illness. Synthetic cathinones and phenethylamines are also linked to psychotic manifestations including thought disturbances and perceptual abnormalities. While many psychotic episodes are transient, a notable proportion evolve into persistent states, indicating that these substances may unmask latent vulnerabilities or directly contribute to chronic psychotic disorders. Clinicians should systematically assess NPS use in first-episode psychosis patients.