Citation

Göpel C, Laufer C, Marcus A. Nord. J. Psychiatry 2002; 56(1): 49-52.

Affiliation

Hospital Mutterhaus der Borromäerinnen, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Center for Psychobiological and Psychosomatic Research, University of Trier, Trier, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/08039480252803927

PMID

11869466

Abstract

An increase of intoxications in persons using alkaloid-containing ornamental plants (mainly angel's trumpet) for their hallucinogenic effects and easy and cheap availability is registered. It is mainly adolescents who are experimenting with these plants. In addition to severe vegetative anticholinergic symptoms, the clinical picture is often dominated by a toxic psychosis with hallucinations, disturbances of orientation, and psychomotoric agitation, aggression, or anxiety. Three cases of severe psychotic pictures with only mild or completely missing vegetative symptoms after ingestion of angel's trumpet tea are reported. Caused by the increasing spreading of angel's trumpet shrubberies in Europe and North America, intoxications with large numbers of fatalities have to be expected in the future. The taxonomical, pharmacological, and clinical aspects of angel's trumpet-induced disorders are discussed. Knowledge of the clinical picture is important for correct diagnosis and treatment. Prevention by mass media should mainly focus on the medical fatalities of abuse and not emphasize the hallucinogenic effects, presumably increasing unwanted interest for these plants among youths.

Language: en