Citation

Shu LR, Tsai SJ. Int. J. Psychiatry Med. 2003; 33(2): 163-168.

Affiliation

Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12968829

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Glue is cheap and readily available, and is frequently misused, especially by adolescents. Long-term effects of regular use, in terms of the psychiatric symptoms and cognitive function, have rarely been reported, however. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed the psychiatric symptoms and the results of cognitive tests for six long-term glue sniffers admitted to a psychiatric ward. RESULTS: Our results suggest that long-term abuse of these adhesive products is often associated with violent behavior and/or self-mutilation. Functional deterioration, characterized by impairment of intelligence, was noted for most of the patients, with some developing psychosis. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic glue sniffing may cause functional deterioration, and even psychosis. The associated violent behaviors in long-term glue sniffers also warrant caution.

Language: en