Psychopathology induced by "speed drugs"

The CNS stimulants produce profound psychopathological conditions in animals and man. The mental and motoric changes in humans make it relevant to retain the amphetamine and cocaine psychoses as possible models for endogenous psychoses, such as certain forms of the schizophrenias and manic-depressive disorders. The following behavioral aberrations in humans were found: (1) motor stereotypies with bizarre movements; repetitive, aimless activities; ("pottering"= "knick-knacking"= "punding") with various objects, including own body; repetition of single words, phrases or musical expressions; stereotyped drawing and writing (phenomena which are examples of mental stereotypy); (2) social stereotypies: prolonged sexual intercourse without ejaculation; collective monologues; (3) social withdrawal: "autism", social isolation with no or inappropriate responses to social stimuli; (4) paranoia; (5) hallucinations and illusions: auditory, visual, tactile (microhallucinations). Parallels to the overt behaviors have consistently been found in lower and higher animal species. Comparative data from experiments with rats and monkeys are presented. The findings have some important implications: drug addiction, basic understanding of social behavior and mental functions, screening and use of neuroleptic drugs, and side effects on social contact and behavior by the therapeutic use of CNS stimulants.