title: The behavioral profile of spice and synthetic cannabinoids in humans.
abstract: The use of synthetic cannabinoids (spice) is increasing. The number of descriptions of (new) clinical side effects is also increasing. We screened relevant publications for articles about spice with a focus on the clinical manifestations of the use of this drug. Spice creates diffuse psychiatric and somatic effects that are only partially similar to those of natural cannabinoids. Most of the observed effects are related to sympathomimetic-cardiac effects and neuropsychiatric manifestations. Clinical treatment is primarily based on intensive apparative and laboratory monitoring and supportive therapy. Because the exact active ingredients of spice are often difficult to determine with standard specific toxicology testing, the assessment and analysis of consumed substances by specialized laboratories is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Erlangen, Germany; Medical Campus University of Oldenburg, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (Head of Department: Prof. Dr. Alexandra Philipsen), Karl-Jaspers-Klinik, Hermann-Ehlers-Straße 7, D-26160 Bad Zwischenahn, Germany. Electronic address: helge.mueller@karl-jaspers-klinik.de.
authors.forename: Helge H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kornhuber
authors.affiliation: Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sperling
mesh_terms: D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D039781:PubMed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D002186:Cannabinoids; D013287:Illicit Drugs
keywords: Neuropsychiatric side-effects; Somatic effects; Spice; Synthetic cannabinoids; Treatment