Current p SYCHIATRY CASES THAT TEST YOUR SKILLS Mr. R hears ‘whispers from terrorists’ plotting an attack. He presents severely agitated with vomiting, psychosis, and paranoia. What is your diagnosis, given his history of ADHD, depression, and substance abuse? Chemical ‘warfare’ in Philadelphia Jeffrey Dunn, MD Josh Kellerman Eric C. Alcera, MD Associate professor Medical student Resident, department of psychiatry Department of psychiatry Cooper Hospital, Camden, NJ University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Camden, NJ EMERGENCY PRESENTATION A rough commute years of struggling through school with impaired r. R, age 25, presented to the emergency concentration. At that time, he began taking M room confused and severely agitated. That methylphenidate, 10 mg each morning, and com- morning, his parents found him in his pleted 3 years of college in North Carolina. He then Philadelphia apartment covering his mouth and dropped out of college and attempted suicide nose with a T-shirt to guard against imminent twice. chemical warfare. After the second suicide attempt, a psychiatrist The day before, Mr. R had developed auditory diagnosed Mr. R as having major depression. The and visual hallucinations and paranoid and perse- psychiatrist discontinued methylphenidate and cutory delusions. That day, on his way to work, he started bupropion, dosage unknown. After 1 year, said he had seen “terrorists releasing toxic chemi- he stopped taking the antidepressant, thinking he cals into the air” and heard “whispers of terrorists no longer needed it. plotting an attack on the East Coast.” Last year, Mr. R moved back to Philadelphia to Mr. R showed no suicidal or homicidal be closer to his parents. Shortly afterward, he began ideations. He denied significant medical or surgical obtaining methylphenidate illegally and later starting history but reported that he had recently been using cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines, and 3,4- diagnosed with depression after a “bad Ecstasy methylenedioxymethamphetamine (“Ecstasy”). experience.” For 6 months he had been taking At presentation, Mr. R’s mood was dysphoric paroxetine, 20 mg once daily, and bupropion, 150 with bizarre affect. Eye contact was poor with easy mg once daily, for his depression. distractibility. Speech was pressured, with full At age 18, Mr. R was diagnosed with atten- range. His thought process was grossly disorga- tion-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) after nized with tangential thinking and flight of ideas. continued on page 95 90 VOL. 3, NO. 3 / MARCH 2004 Current p SYCHIATRY continued from page 90 His short- and long-term memory were intact; iety, palpitations, and generalized hand/body insight and judgment were limited. A Mini-Mental tremors that disturbed his sleep. Hallucinations State Examination could not be completed and delusions started the next day. because of his disorganization and distractibility. At presentation, Mr. R’s blood pressure was 188/92 mm Hg, his heart rate was 110 bpm, and his Does Mr. R. have schizophrenia or schizoaf- respiratory rate was 22 breaths per minute. Pupils fective disorder? Or are his symptoms related were 5 mm and reactive with intact extraocular move- to ADHD or substance abuse? ment. A urine drug screen indicated amphetamine use. Mr. R was tentatively diagnosed as having GBL withdrawal syndrome and was admitted for ▼ observation and treatment. The psychiatry ser- vice followed him for change in mental status and drug dependence. Can a withdrawal syndrome reasonably account for Mr. R’s symptoms? The authors’ observations Mr. R’s paranoid delusions and hallucinations may suggest schizophrenia. With his history of ▼ suicide attempts, a depressive or schizoaffective disorder may also be considered. However, Mr. R is close with his family and has several friends. His parents say he has not been withdrawn or paranoid, and there is no known family history of mood disorder, substance The authors’ observations abuse, or other psychiatric illness. Mr. R also has GBL is a precursor of gamma-hydroxybutyrate been working steadily and had worked the night (GHB), a highly addictive agent that is used before presenting to us, so schizophrenia and illicitly, typically at parties and nightclubs (Box, schizoaffective disorder are ruled out. ADHD and page 96). GBL is among the clinical analogues of abuse of multiple substances could explain his GHB that have become popular street drugs. behavior because overdose of stimulants and illic- GHB withdrawal syndrome has only recent- it drugs may produce a psychotic event. ly been described in the literature and is virtually indistinguishable from withdrawal after cessation FURTHER HISTORY The power of addiction of GBL and other precursors. To date, 71 deaths fter more questioning, Mr. R said that he have been attributed to GHB withdrawal.2 A had recently started using gamma butyro- A constellation of symptoms exhibited by Mr. lactone (GBL) in a failed attempt to build muscle. R point to GHB withdrawal, which should be For 4 months he had been taking 3.5 oz of GBL included in the differential diagnosis of any seda- daily—0.25 oz every 2 to 3 hours and 0.75 oz at tive/hypnotic withdrawal (Table 1, page 97). night to help him sleep. How GHB works. GHB easily crosses the blood- Within 6 hours of his most recent GBL dose brain barrier. Like other sedative/hypnotics, its (reportedly 1 oz), Mr. R developed intractable nau- depressant effects on the brain in low doses (2 to 4 sea, vomiting, and flatus, followed quickly by anx- grams) produce a euphoric feeling as inhibitions are VOL. 3, NO. 3 / MARCH 2004 95 CASES THAT TEST YOUR SKILLS Chemical ‘warfare’ in Philadelphia Box GHB and ethanol share a common mechanism 5 GHB: To many users, a ‘wonder drug’ of action. At pharmacologic doses, GHB appears to act in part through effects on the structurally related ntroduced in 1960 as an anesthetic, GABA neurotransmitter or its receptors. Igamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) has become a Not surprisingly, a withdrawal syndrome notorious recreational drug. It is often called the characterized by delirium and autonomic insta- “date rape drug” because of its intoxicating bility ensues after GHB use is abruptly stopped. sedative effects. By functioning as indirect GABA agonists and Users have viewed GHB as a dietary ultimately evoking inhibitory neurotransmission, supplement that can also enhance athletic and benzodiazepines and most barbiturates may alle- sexual performance, relieve depression, and viate GHB withdrawal symptoms.4 Thiamine is induce sleep. Weightlifters have used GHB to added to prevent Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, quickly build muscle while avoiding side effects 5 associated with anabolic steroids. as is seen in alcohol withdrawal. GHB withdrawal. Symptoms are divided into As more products containing GHB were introduced, many serious adverse events— three phases: including seizure, respiratory depression, and • Phase 1 (acute, first 24 hours). Presenting profound decreases in consciousness—were symptoms include anxiety, restlessness, insom- identified with its use and misuse. Although nia, tremor, diaphoresis, tachycardia, and hyper- the Food and Drug Administration banned tension. Nausea and vomiting are variable but 1 over-the-counter sales of GHB in 1990, the can be unrelenting. agent is still widely available on the black While symptoms vary in severity, most market and over the Internet. prominent are agitation, restlessness, and through its chemical GHB also is marketed insomnia. Some patients do not sleep for days precursors, specifically GBL and 1,4-butanediol. These precursors are rapidly and systemically after their last dose, and diffuse body tremors converted to the active GHB product. GBL is prevent them from sitting or lying still. hydrolyzed by a peripheral lactonase, and Tachycardia and hypertension are hard to eval- 1,4-butanediol is processed by alcohol uate at this phase because patients present at dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase— different stages of withdrawal. Initial blood 1 the enzymes involved in ethanol degradation. pressure readings as high as 240/130 mm Hg and heart rates of 120 bpm have been reported, however. depressed. Profound coma or death result from • Phase 2 (days 2 through 6). Worsening auto- higher doses (>4 grams).3 Heart rate may also be nomic symptoms, progressive GI symptoms, and slowed and CNS effects may result in myoclonus, overall worsening of the withdrawal mark this producing seizure-like movements. Combining tumultuous period. Patients usually present at GHB with other drugs can increase the other agents’ this point—in acute distress and no longer able depressant effects, leading to confusion, amnesia, to self-treat. vomiting, irregular breathing, or death.2 Confusion, delirium, and florid psychosis A tiny increase in GHB dose can dramatical- characterize this phase. Mr. R’s paranoid delu- ly increase the symptoms and risk of overdose.4 sions and hallucinations are the most common GHB’s effects are also variable: A 1-teaspoon form of psychosis seen in GHB withdrawal.5 In dose can produce the desired “high” one time some cases, the psychosis impairs social, occupa- and an overdose the next. tional, and other functioning. 96 Current VOL. 3, NO. 3 / MARCH 2004 p SYCHIATRY Current p SYCHIATRY Table 1 Comparison of sedative-hypnotic withdrawal syndromes Duration Neurologic/ Major mechanism of severe Autonomic psychiatric inducing Substance Onset symptoms instability* symptoms Mortality withdrawal state‡ GHB <6 5 to 12 Mild Severe <1% Loss of GHB, GABAA, hours days and GABAB-mediated inhibition Benzodiazepines 1 to 3 5 to 9 Moderate Moderate 1% Loss of GABAA- days days mediated inhibition Baclofen 12 to 96 8 days Moderate Severe None Loss of GABAB- hours reported mediated inhibition Ethanol <6 10 to 14 Severe Moderate 5% to 15% Loss of GABAA- hours days to severe mediated inhibition; disinhibition of NMDA receptors NMDA: N-methyl D-aspartate. GHB: Gamma-hydroxybutyrate *Marked by tachycardia, fever, hypertension, and/or diaphoresis. ‡All withdrawal states involve multifactorial processes. Source: Reference 5 Underlying or concurrent causes of delirium Did Mr.