During a 13-month period, 9 patients with phencyclidine-induced
psychosis were admitted to Darnall Army Hospital. They exhibited hostility
agitation, and tangentiality and had delusions of influence and religious
grandiosity. Six subjects reported auditory hallucinations, and 4 were
disoriented in at least 1 sphere. Despite treatment with antipsychotic
medication, the psychotic episodes often persisted for more than 30 days.
Our clinical finding of prolonged psychotic reactions, together with
previous reports of the effects of phencyclidine, suggests that
phenycyclidine provides an intriguing drug model for schizophrenia.
Abstract Teaser