Abstract

San Diego TO THE EDITOR: Recreational use of synthetic cannabinoid agonist-containing compounds, commonly known as "Spice," has become increasingly popular. These products consist of nonpsychoactive plant material coated with varying combinations of synthetic cannabinoid agonists (1). Very little is known about the toxicology and psychiatric effects of these drugs. We present a case report in which the smoking of synthetic cannabinoid agonists precipitated new-onset psychosis.Case Report Ten otherwise healthy men were admitted with new-onset psychosis to the psychiatry ward at the Naval Medical Center San Diego between August and December 2010. The patients were between 21 and 25 years old and had no history of psychosis. One patient reported a family history consistent with a primary psychotic disorder (an aunt). Four patients had auditory hallucinations and two had visual hallucinations, nine had paranoid delusions, six had odd or flat affect, four had thought blocking, six had disorganized speech, seven had disorganized behavior, three had alogia, four had suicidal ideation, six had insomnia, six had psychomotor retardation, three had psychomotor agitation, and two had anxiety. A distinct waxing and waning stuporous appearance was common among these patients. Hospitalizations ranged from 6 to 10 days, and seven of the 10