Novel psychoactive substances and induced phenomena in psychopathology: The lysergic psychoma

Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are defined as new nar- cotic/psychotropic drugs that are not controlled by the United Nations’ Conventions on Narcotic Drugs (1961) or Psychotrop- ic Substances (1971), but which may pose a comparable pub- lic health threat. The use of NPS is an emerging issue that will challenge psychopathology for years to come. The knowledge of health professionals about the acute/chronic physical and psychopathological manifestations associated with NPS intake is still scarce and fragmentary. The lysergic psychoma is a construct that may be pivotal in the understanding of phenomena induced by NPS in general, notonly by lysergic hallucinogens. The model of hexogen psycho- sis developed by Karl Bonhoeffer may help to understand what happens during and after the intake of these substances. More clinical studies are needed to clarify these aspects and the importance of the hexogen model, not only in the perspective of toxic psychosis. This latter may represent a heuristic model that can help to better understand the psychotic process as a whole.