TOXIC PSYCHOSIS WITH TRANSIENT DYSMNESTIC SYNDROME FOLLOWING WITHDRAWAL FROM VALIUM
HARVEY H. BARTEN M.D.1
1 36th Tactical Hospital, Bitburg Air Force Base, APO 132, N. Y., N. Y. The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U. S. Air Force or the Department of Defense
The psychosis which follows barbiturate withdrawal(2) is also often heralded by a grand-mal seizure. The delirium begins on about the third day, and includes agitation and hallucinations. Mayer-Gross(2) states that a dysmnestic syndrome following a delirium is not rare, usually occurs when consciousness is clear but that the delirium can recur at night. "Eventual recovery is almost invariable."
Of interest is the fact that the patient reported hallucinations in four different sensory modalities.
