Frontiers in Psychiatry
February 20, 2023
Chelsea R. Miller, Bradley G. Burk, Rachel E. Fargason et al.
16 citations
Three patients who regularly used only delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC), a federally unregulated cannabis derivative, developed psychotic and paranoid symptoms severe enough to require admission to a university psychiatric hospital. The symptoms exceeded the severity of their previous psychiatric episodes and included new-onset violence and visual hallucinations in two patients, including one with no prior psychiatric history and one on a therapeutic antipsychotic dose. A third patient developed bizarre, fixed delusions of puppies dissolving in the bathtub. The report documents a temporal association between Δ8-THC use and psychosis, though conclusions are limited by reliance on self-reported use and possible confounding factors.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
September 22, 2023
Haniya J Halim, Bradley G Burk, Rachel E Fargason et al.
13 citations
A 21-year-old male with a recent diagnosis of bipolar II disorder developed a manic episode after ingesting psilocybin in hallucinogenic mushrooms. Psilocybin is being studied as a treatment for depression and other conditions, but patients at risk for mania are typically excluded from research due to concerns about inducing mania. This case highlights the need for further investigation into the risks of psilocybin and other psychedelics in people with bipolar disorder, who may have high rates of depression, impulsivity, and substance use.
Psychopharmacology bulletin
August 12, 2025
Bridgette Martinak, Ramy A Bolis, J. Black et al.
Dextromethorphan (DXM), a common over-the-counter cough suppressant, can cause psychosis when abused at high doses (over 1500 mg/day), producing delusions, hallucinations, and paranoia similar to phencyclidine (PCP). A case of severe DXM use disorder with psychotic disorder in a 40-year-old woman resolved only after treatment with an antipsychotic and mood stabilizer. DXM is not detected on standard urine drug screens, and its abuse may be an under-recognized cause of substance-induced psychosis. Clinicians should be aware of these psychiatric risks.