Unpredictable Behavior Under the Influence of “Magic Mushrooms”: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Emma Honyiglo, Angélique Franchi, Nathalie Cartiser, Charline Bottinelli, Anne‐sophie Advenier, Fabien Bévalot, Laurent Fanton
Journal of Forensic Sciences December 12, 2018 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.13982 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case report and review of literature Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A young man who died after jumping from a balcony under the influence of psilocybin mushrooms |
| Intervention | psilocybin mushrooms |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Mushroom poisoning Solid phase extraction Toxicology Hallucinogen |
| Citations | 33 |
| Key findings | Isolated use of psilocybin mushrooms by a regular consumer without psychiatric history can lead to a fatal outcome. |
Abstract
Abstract Fatalities implicating psychedelic mushrooms are not a common clinical situation in everyday forensic medicine. Despite classification as an illegal drug in many countries, psilocybin mushrooms have the reputation of being safe. We report the case of a young man who jumped from a second story balcony under the influence of psilocybin mushrooms. The psilocin assay was performed by gas chromatography coupled to an electron‐impact ionization time‐of‐flight detector ( GC ‐ EI ‐ TOF ) after solid‐phase extraction. Total psilocin was quantified in peripheral and cardiac blood as 60 and 67 ng/ mL , respectively, and in urine (2230 ng/ mL ), bile (3102 ng/ mL ), and vitreous humor (57 ng/ mL ). This case report and review of literature highlights the danger of psilocybin mushrooms. Isolated use of psilocybin mushrooms by a regular consumer without psychiatric history, even under “safe” circumstances, can lead to a fatal outcome.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psilocybin Mushroom (Psilocybe semilanceata) Intoxication with Myocardial Infarction 18-year-old man | 1998 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Relief from intractable phantom pain by combining psilocybin and mirror visual-feedback (MVF) Person with leg amputation and phantom-limb pain | 2018 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder after psilocybin consumption: a case study 18-year-old man with HPPD after mixed psilocybin and cannabis intoxication | 2005 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Microdosing psilocybin for chronic pain: a case series Individuals with chronic neuropathic pain | 2022 | Case series | n = 3 |
| Psilocybin and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Individual with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder | 2014 | Case study | n = 1 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 21
- Adverse effects of psychedelics: From anecdotes and misinformation to systematic science. Journal of Psychopharmacology February 2, 2022
- Psilocybin in neuropsychiatry: a review of its pharmacology, safety, and efficacy CNS Spectrums July 11, 2022
- On the Relationship between Classic Psychedelics and Suicidality: A Systematic Review ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science March 11, 2021
- Toxicology and Analysis of Psychoactive Tryptamines International Journal of Molecular Sciences December 4, 2020
- Seeking the Psilocybiome: Psychedelics meet the microbiota-gut-brain axis. International journal of clinical and health psychology : IJCHP 2023
and 16 more in the library
Cites 11
- Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression: fMRI-measured brain mechanisms. Scientific Reports October 13, 2017
- Survey study of challenging experiences after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms: Acute and enduring positive and negative consequences Journal of Psychopharmacology August 31, 2016
- The pharmacology of psilocybin Addiction Biology October 1, 2002
- Harm potential of magic mushroom use: a review. Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP April 1, 2011
- Psychedelic Drugs in Biomedicine TIPS - Trends in Pharmacological Sciences September 22, 2017
and 6 more in the library