A systematic review of the effects of novel psychoactive substances 'legal highs' on people with severe mental illness.
Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing June 1, 2016 R Gray, D Bressington, E Hughes et al. 39 citations
A systematic review of the literature found that little is known about the effects of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) on people with severe mental illness (SMI). Based on 12 case reports, 1 cross-sectional survey, and 1 qualitative study involving mostly males aged 20–35, the most commonly reported effects were psychotic symptoms—sometimes novel in form and content—and significant behavioral changes such as agitation, aggression, and violence. Vital signs like blood pressure, pulse rate, and temperature were also commonly affected. Almost nothing is known about long-term consequences, and generalizability is limited due to reliance on case studies.