Dependent Personality Traits, Spices-use and Psychotic Onset: a Case-report

Abstract

Introduction: Spices-use is continuously increasing in Western Countries, especially for legal reasons. Intoxication has been widely associated with psychotic symptoms. Objectives: Here we present a case-report that seems to highlight this possible association between canabimimetics and psychosis, stressing the use of 'Spices" as an instrument of auto-determination in the young patient's opinion. Aims: Find if the supposed relation between certain Life Events and Spices use for people with a use consequent to a Dependent Personality traits can lead to an unmasking of a psychosis. Methods: Clinical interviews, Eri-Raos, drug-use and literature revision. Results: Diagnostically, these patient presented right after a Spice intoxication psychotic symptoms like delusions, strong distress, the feeling of being observed and considered 'mad", self-isolation that strengthened the need of Spice use and more difficulty (but self-reported need) to stay with others and to self-determinate herself in meaningful relationships. These symptoms have had a strong relief after the establishment of a relationship with our community mental health center (CMHC) and its multidisciplinary staff, that took care whit the patient of the whole life, in particular of the details that were stressful for her. Conclusions: This report, being in accordance with others, suggests the necessity of further studies on the relation between Spice-use and psychotic symptoms, in particular for patients with a use that has roots to Dependent Personality Traits.