Cocaine Dependence Produce Psychiatric Symptoms - a Case Report

Abstract

Aim:

We want to present a polymorphic clinical features like: hallutinations, paranoid ideas, agitation and violence as a result of prolonged cocaine intranasal consumption.

Methods:

We exposed a 30-year old male patient with ICD-X diagnostic criteria for cocaine dependence (intranasal consumption) that treated in the outpatient unit of Special Hospital of Addicitons, Belgrade, Serbia from April to July 2008. We used the medical records, psychical examination, psychiatric interwievs, standard blood sampling and cocaine urine detections sample (positive).

Results:

Observations a specific and polymorphic clinical features with presence of psychotic symptoms after cocaine consumptions in our male patient, for the first time after 5 years of cocaine dependence: auditory hallucinations (two- voice speakers), paranoid persecution ideas and suspiciousness, agitation with appearance of vegetative symptomatology (palpitations, sweating, pupil dilatation), extremely violence behavior to other people, complete social reductions (“armed to the outside world”, refused any personal contact and isolated from friends and family, permanent outdoor checking). There was an intensive fear too and impaired judgment.

Conclusions:

Permanent cocaine consumption can result with produce a numerous of psychiatric symptoms and syndromes as our experience does. It is similar to the findings of other studies and papers reviewed. It is suppose that cocaine has numerous effects on important neurotransmitters in the brain, such as increase as well as the release of dopamine and it related with aggressiveness, hallucinations and other psychiatric symptoms.