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Whack induced psychosis: A case series

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Emam El-Higaya*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University College Hospital, Galway, Ireland
Mohamed Ahmed
Affiliation:
Limerick Regional Hospital and Honorary Research Fellow, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
Brian Hallahan
Affiliation:
Roscommon County Hospital and Honorary Research Fellow, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
*
*Correspondence Email: emam.higaya@gmail.com

Abstract

‘Whack’ is a new psychoactive substance available until recently in ‘head shops’. It contains two active constituents, 4-fluorotropacocaine and desoxypipradrol. We present two case reports of subjects who developed acute psychotic states after using Whack. Both individuals displayed similar affective and anxiety symptoms in the presence of significant psychotic symptoms. Both required inpatient treatment but displayed a good treatment response to atypical antipsychotic agents. To our knowledge, this is the first published case series relating to this psychoactive substance.

Type
Case report
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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