PSYCHOTIC BREAK INDUCED BY ILLICIT DRUG USE

Abstract

Objective: to provide an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon of psychotic outbreak induced by illicit drug use, addressing its causes, mechanisms, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Methods: Integrative literature review, carried out in August 2024, in the virtual databases Virtual Health Library, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, and Google Scholar using the descriptors “Psychotic Disorders”, “Illicit Drugs”, “Substance-Related Disorders” and “Mental Health”, as well as “Psychotic Disorders”, “Illicit Drugs”, “Substance-Related Disorders” and “Mental Health” selected by the DeCS and MeSH Descriptors, related to the Boolean operator AND in all databases. Results and Discussion: After complying with the methodological procedures, 12 articles available on the VHL Portal, in the PubMed, VHL and Google Scholar databases were selected, which portray that a psychotic episode induced by the use of illicit drugs is a serious psychiatric condition that can occur when a person consumes psychoactive substances that significantly alter brain chemistry, leading to symptoms of psychosis, and is characterized by loss of contact with reality, which can include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking and extremely agitated or bizarre behavior. Final Considerations: the psychotic episode induced using illicit drugs is an extreme and dangerous manifestation of the impact that these substances can have on mental health. Understanding this phenomenon requires a multidisciplinary approach, involving not only psychiatric knowledge, but also strong integration with public health strategies, prevention policies and psychosocial support.