Phencyclidine abuse and symptomatic mania
Slavney, P.R.; Rich, G.B.; Pearlson, G.D.; McHugh, P.R.
Biological Psychiatry 12(5): 697-700
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0006-3223 PMID: 588649 Document Number: 123313
Phencyclidine (Sernylan, PCP, "angel dust") which may act as both a CNS stimulant and depressant, is widely abused. Despite this interest in the drug, little attention has been given its effects on mood although profound mood changes have been reported after both therapeutic administration and street abuse. The 2 patients described exhibited a typical manic syndrome in clear consciousness without known genetic predisposition to that disorder. Their signs and symptoms meet the phenomenological criteria for research diagnoses of mania. Symptoms persisted longer than the drug's half-life would indicate, a phenomenon also seen with delirious states due to PCP. Because PCP may be a nonspecific precipitant of functional psychoses rather than a compound which induces manic psychopathology, the records of 53 schizophrenics discharged during the same time period as the manic ones were examined. Of 11 cases without known family history or previous attacks of schizophrenia, no patient reported PCP use. Even though case reports were not conclusive evidence for a causal link between PCP and mania, PCP may be capable of inducing a manic state indistinguishable from that of naturally occurring affective disorder. Factors such as drug concentration, method of administration and hallucinogen abuse may all prove important in the production of this syndrome.