Aims: To evaluate the proportion of patients hospitalised in an acute psychiatric ward associated with use of the synthetic cannabinoid K2, along with their clinical features.
Methods: Retrospective audit. K2 use was based on self-report.
Results: Seventeen patients had a total of 21 admissions during between January and April 2013; this represented 13% of all admissions to the ward during this time. This was a first hospitalisation for 4 patients. Of the 13 patients with previous psychiatric hospitalisation, 9 patients had recurrences of pre-existing disorders, and 4 patients presented new psychotic symptoms. Presenting symptoms were variable, and included psychotic (paranoia, thought disorder, disorganised behaviour), affective (anxious, depressed) disturbances, and/or intense suicidal thinking/behaviour. Mean duration of admission was 8.5 days, with significantly longer durations for those presenting with psychotic symptoms (13.1 vs 4.4 days).
Conclusions: In this case series, use of K2 was associated with significant psychotoxicity requiring hospitalisation, and indicates substantial risk associated with use of synthetic cannabinoids.