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Phencyclidine in umbilical cord blood: preliminary data
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|April 1, 1983
Summary
Phencyclidine (PCP) abuse is a growing psychiatric concern. A study found 12% of umbilical cord blood samples tested positive for PCP, highlighting the drug
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Psychiatry
- Perinatal Medicine
Background:
- Phencyclidine (PCP) abuse has escalated into a significant public health and psychiatric issue.
- The widespread prevalence of PCP is increasingly recognized due to advancements in sensitive detection methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the extent of phencyclidine (PCP) exposure in newborns.
- To assess the implications of prenatal PCP exposure across multiple medical and legal disciplines.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of umbilical cord blood samples from 200 obstetrics patients.
- Utilized highly sensitive capillary gas chromatography-nitrogen detector measurements for PCP detection.
Main Results:
- A significant proportion of newborns, 12% (24 out of 200), tested positive for PCP.
- Detected PCP levels ranged from 0.10 to 5.80 ng/ml in positive samples.
Conclusions:
- The findings indicate a substantial rate of prenatal phencyclidine (PCP) exposure.
- Results underscore the critical need for multidisciplinary attention from psychiatry, obstetrics, pediatrics, and juvenile law.