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New/emerging psychoactive substances and associated psychopathological consequences

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 July 2019

F. Schifano ,
F. Napoletano ,
S. Chiappini ,
A. Guirguis ,
J. M. Corkery ,
S. Bonaccorso ,
A. Ricciardi ,
N. Scherbaum  and
A. Vento
F. Schifano
Affiliation:
Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse, and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK
F. Napoletano
Affiliation:
Homerton University Hospital, London, UK
S. Chiappini*
Affiliation:
Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse, and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK
A. Guirguis
Affiliation:
Swansea University Medical School, Institute of Life Sciences 2, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, Wales
J. M. Corkery
Affiliation:
Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse, and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK
S. Bonaccorso
Affiliation:
Camden and Islington NHS Mental Health Foundation Trust, London, UK
A. Ricciardi
Affiliation:
Camden and Islington NHS Mental Health Foundation Trust, London, UK Department of Mental Health, ASL Roma 1, Rome, Italy
N. Scherbaum
Affiliation:
LVR-Klinikum Essen, Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
A. Vento
Affiliation:
Addictions' Observatory (ODDPSS), Rome, Italy ‘Guglielmo Marconi’ University, Rome, Italy Department of Mental Health, ASL Roma 2, Rome, Italy
*
Author for correspondence: Stefania Chiappini, E-mail: stefaniachiappini9@gmail.com
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Abstract

Background

The present paper provides an updated review of both the large number of new/novel/emerging psychoactive substances (NPS) and their associated psychopathological consequences. Focus was here given on identification of those NPS being commented in specialised online sources and the related short-/long-term psychopathological and medical ill-health effects.

Methods

NPS have been identified through an innovative crawling/navigating software, called the ‘NPS.Finder®’, created in order to facilitate the process of early recognition of NPS online. A range of information regarding NPS, including chemical and street names; chemical formula; three-dimensional image and anecdotally reported clinical/psychoactive effects, were here made available.

Results

Using the ‘NPS.Finder®’ approach, a few thousand NPS were here preliminarily identified, a number which is about 4-fold higher than those figures suggested by European and international drug agencies. NPS most commonly associated with the onset of psychopathological consequences included here synthetic cannabinoids/cannabimimetics; new synthetic opioids; ketamine-like dissociatives; novel stimulants; novel psychedelics and several prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

Conclusions

The ever-increasing changes in terms of recreational psychotropics' availability represent a relatively new challenge for psychiatry, as the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of many NPS have not been thoroughly understood. Health/mental health professionals should be informed about the range of NPS; their intake modalities; their psychoactive sought-after effects; the idiosyncratic psychotropics' combinations and finally, their medical and psychopathological risks.

Keywords

Drug-induced psychosisdrug misusenew psychoactive substancesNPSprescribing drug misusepsychedelics
Type
Invited Review
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 51 , Issue 1 , January 2021 , pp. 30 - 42
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019

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