Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T06:24:52.887Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Abuse of Indigenous Psilocybin Mushrooms: A New Fashion and Some Psychiatric Complications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

C. Hyde
Affiliation:
Manchester Royal Infirmary, Swinton Grove, Manchester M13 0E
G. Glancy
Affiliation:
Manchester Royal Infirmary
P. Omerod
Affiliation:
East Birmingham Hospital
D. Hall
Affiliation:
Gaskell House, Manchester Royal Infirmary
G. S. Taylor
Affiliation:
Manchester University

Summary

The use for hallucinogenic purposes of an indigenous mushroom, Psilocybe semilanceata indigenous to Britain is reported in three patients. Typical psychedelic, transient psychotic and more prolonged schizophrenia-like states were seen, with sympathomimetic signs noted in two cases, in one being prolonged. Enquiry about such mushroom abuse should be considered in individuals presenting to medical or psychiatric emergency clinics.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1978 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Daily Telegraph, 18 November 1977. Mushrooms contravene Drugs Act. Google Scholar
Hofmann, A., Frey, A., Ott, H., Petrzilka, T. & Troxler, F. (1958) Konstitutions—aufklarung und Synthese von Psilocybin. Experientia 14, 397–9.Google Scholar
Hofmann, A., Heim, R., Brack, A. & Kobel, H. (1958) Psilocybin, ein psychotroper Wirkstoff aus dem Mexikanischen Rauschpilz Psilocybe mexicana Heim. Experientia 14, 107–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hofmann, A., Heim, R. & Tscherter, H. (1963) Presence de la psilocybine dans une espèce europeenne d'Agaric, Le Psilocybe semilanceata Fr. Compte Rendu Hebdomadaire des Seances de l'Academie des Sciencies, Paris, 257, 1012.Google Scholar
Lange, M. & Hora, F. B. (1963) Collins Guide to Mushrooms and Toadstools. London.Google Scholar
Mantle, P. G. & Waight, E. S. (1969) Occurrence of psilocybin in the sporophores of Psilocybe semilanceata. Transactions of the British Mycological Society, 53, 302–3.Google Scholar
Olah, G. M. (1969) Le Genre Panaeolus, 273. Mémoire Hors- Série No. 10 de la Revue de Mycologie.Google Scholar
Singer, R. (1958) Mycological investigations on teonánacatl, the Mexican hallucinogenic mushroom. I. The history of teonánacatl, field work and culture work. Mycologia 50, 239–61.Google Scholar
Times, Sunday, 20 November 1977, p 2. £30 an oz toadstool.Google Scholar
Wasson, R. G. (1971) Soma Divine Mushroom of Immortality. 395 pp. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.Google Scholar
Watling, R. (1974) Identification of the Larger Fungi. Hulton Educational Publications, Amersham.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.