Laboratory of Forensic Toxicology, Section of Legal Medicine, Social Security and Forensic Toxicology, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
2 papers in the library · 239 citations · publishing 2014-2024
Current Neuropharmacology December 10, 2014 Roberta Tittarelli, Giulio Mannocchi, Flaminia Pantano et al. 217 citations
A review organizes information from the internet and scientific literature to help specialists, including emergency department personnel, address the emerging threat of new psychoactive substances (NPS) to public health and public security.
International journal of molecular sciences August 31, 2024 Beldisa Taflaj, Nunzia La Maida, Roberta Tittarelli et al. 22 citations
New psychoactive substances (NPSs) are diverse drugs sold as legal substitutes for controlled drugs, and their psychiatric consequences are not well understood. A review of 109 NPS-related intoxication cases published between 2013 and 2024 found that synthetic cannabinoids were the most common cause of acute or chronic psychiatric symptoms, followed by synthetic cathinones, hallucinogens, natural NPSs, and stimulants. The most frequent acute symptoms included hallucinations, aggressiveness, and psychotic or bizarre behavior, linked to neurotransmitter imbalances in the central nervous system. The absence of clear diagnostic criteria and toxicological analyses complicates psychiatric diagnosis; implementing toxicological screening in emergency rooms and follow-up care is recommended.