Background and Objectives: Phenibut (4-amino-3-phenyl-butyric acid), acting as a GABA-B receptor agonist, has a beneficial effect on anxiety. Although its medical use is not approved in western countries, it can be easily obtained worldwide via the Internet, so it spread as a substance of abuse. In recent years, some case reports have, therefore, highlighted episodes of acute toxicity or withdrawal, but it is still a largely unknown phenomenon. Methods: In this case report, a 50-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency room with psychomotor agitation, psychotic symptoms, and insomnia, and was non-responsive to treatment. She was hospitalized at the psychiatry ward for 25 days and gave her consent for the publication of the present case report. Results: The suspicion of phenibut withdrawal allowed to establish the appropriate management, leading to the restitutio ad integrum of the psychopathological case. Conclusions: In the face of an incoercible psychomotor agitation case, the knowledge of the so-called novel psychoactive substances allows for more appropriate clinical management of intoxication and withdrawal syndromes. This is a scientifically significant report as it provides therapeutic and outcome data concerning a syndrome that is still quite unfamiliar.
Psychomotor Agitation Non-responsive to Treatment: A Case Report of Phenibut Withdrawal Syndrome / C.M. Esposito, G.M. Mandolini, G. Delvecchio, A. Fiorentini, P. Brambilla. - In: FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY. - ISSN 1664-0640. - 12(2021 Jun 28). [10.3389/fpsyt.2021.688147]
Titolo: | Psychomotor Agitation Non-responsive to Treatment: A Case Report of Phenibut Withdrawal Syndrome | |
Autori: | ESPOSITO, CECILIA MARIA (Primo) MANDOLINI, GIAN MARIO (Secondo) BRAMBILLA, PAOLO (Ultimo) | |
Settore Scientifico Disciplinare: | Settore MED/25 - Psichiatria | |
Data di pubblicazione: | 28-giu-2021 | |
Rivista: | ||
Tipologia: | Article (author) | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.688147 | |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 01 - Articolo su periodico |
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