3-Methoxy-Phencyclidine Induced Psychotic Disorder: A Literature Review and an 18F-FDG PET/CT Case Report.
Maria Pepe, Marco Di Nicola, Fabrizio Cocciolillo, Stefania Chiappini, Giovanni Martinotti, Maria Lucia Calcagni, Gabriele Sani
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) March 31, 2024 DOI: 10.3390/ph17040452 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe psychoactive substance 3-MeO-PCP, a type of NMDA receptor antagonist, can cause persistent psychotic symptoms and cognitive impairment. A literature review and case report describe a 29-year-old man who developed substance-induced psychotic disorder after small oral intakes over two weeks, culminating in a high dose. Psychometric tests, neuropsychological assessment, and brain PET-CT imaging revealed lasting effects. Identifying the clinical features and neural substrates of NPS-induced psychoses may help distinguish them from other psychotic disorders and guide tailored treatments.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Literature review with case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | 29-year-old man with 3-MeO-PCP intake |
| Keywords | 3-meo-pcp Nps Cognitive functioning Neuroimaging Substance-induced psychosis |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key finding | 3-MeO-PCP can induce persistent psychotic symptoms and cognitive impairment, as illustrated by a case of substance-induced psychotic disorder following repeated small oral doses. |
Abstract
New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) are modifying the drug scenario worldwide and have become a public health concern because of their toxicological profiles and their harmful physical/psychological effects. 3-Methoxy-Phencyclidine (3-MeO-PCP), a non-competitive antagonist of glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, belongs to the phencyclidine-like subfamily of arylcyclohexylamines and has gained attention for its toxic, sometimes fatal, effects. Despite several cases of intoxication and death reported in the literature, little is known about substance-induced psychotic disorders (SIP) and potential cognitive impairment following 3-MeO-PCP intake. This literature review aimed to summarize available evidence about 3-MeO-PCP mechanisms of action and physical and psychotropic effects and to spread preliminary findings about persistent psychotic symptoms and impaired cognitive functioning. Additionally, the case of an SIP is reported in a 29-year-old man with small oral intakes of 3-MeO-PCP over two weeks until a high dose ingestion. Psychometric and neuropsychological assessment and brain [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography integrated with computed tomography were used to support clinical description. Identifying and addressing the characteristic clinical features and neural substrates of NPS-induced psychoses might help clinicians with a more precise differentiation from other psychotic disorders. Although further studies are required, phenotyping the cognitive profile of NPS users might provide targets for tailored therapeutic approaches.