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Two psychiatric presentations linked with ‘head shop’ products

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Chimdi Uhoegbu ,
Eric Kolshus ,
Izu Nwachukwu ,
Allys Guerandel  and
Caroline Maher
Chimdi Uhoegbu
Affiliation:
St Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland
Eric Kolshus
Affiliation:
St Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland
Izu Nwachukwu
Affiliation:
St Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland
Allys Guerandel
Affiliation:
St Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland
Caroline Maher
Affiliation:
St Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland
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Abstract

We report two cases of acute onset and rapid resolution of psychotic symptoms, the first following oral ingestion and the second following intravenous injection of some head shop products (HSPs). Both were associated with autonomic instability and negative results on urine toxicology screening using standard techniques. They highlight the potential dangers of managing such cases in acute stand-alone psychiatric units. Recent advance in characterising some HSPs by toxicology screening is also discussed.

Keywords

Head shopsCathinoneDelusionsMaculopapularEruptionsAutonomic‘Mint Mania’‘Snow’
Type
Case report
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 28 , Issue 1 , March 2011 , pp. S8 - S10
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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