Substance-induced psychoses

Psychotic experiences, such as hearing voices or the feeling of being followed, have little to do with reality, but can be very frightening. Substance-induced psychosis is a mental illness that is triggered by the use of psychotropic substances. These psychoses can be irreversible or temporary.

The symptoms of substance-induced psychosis are usually acute and temporary and generally subside once the psychoactive effects of the substance consumed have worn off. Nevertheless, they can be extremely distressing for those affected and those around them. Appropriate medical and psychological care is crucial to alleviate the symptoms and help those affected to recover.

Substances that can trigger psychosis:

- Cannabinoids

- Cocaine/crack

- Amphetamines/methamphetamines

- MDMA

- Psychedelics

- New psychoactive substances (NPS, research chemicals)

- Alcohol

Risk factors:

- Amount of substance ingested

- Genetic predisposition

- Type of drug consumed

Symptoms of a substance-induced psychosis:

• Hallucinations: Sensory perceptions that are not real, such as seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting or feeling things that do not exist. People under the influence of substances may believe they hear voices or see strange visual phenomena. Note: Hallucinations in the context of psychosis differ from those after the consumption of psychedelics (e.g. LSD, mushrooms). Users of hallucinogens are aware that the phenomena are of internal origin and are therefore pseudo-hallucinations.
• Delusions: False beliefs, such as the feeling of being persecuted.
• Changes in behavior: Emotional instability, outbursts of anger, self-harm.
• Disturbances in thinking and experience: Confused and incoherent thinking.
• Loss of reality: difficulty distinguishing between delusions and reality.
• Aggression: Verbal and physical aggressive behavior.
• Lack of insight into the illness: difficulty recognizing or accepting the symptoms.

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Treatment: In order to be able to initiate the appropriate treatment, doctors need to know which substance the affected person has consumed. A medical history interview is the basis of the diagnosis. Treatment includes reducing the sensory overload and, if necessary, medication with antipsychotics. A trusting relationship with therapists and doctors as well as individual psychological and social therapies are important.