Bath Salt-Induced Psychosis: Nursing Assessment, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Outcomes

Abstract

Purpose: To review what is known about the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of patients with bath salt-induced psychosis.

Design and methods: Comprehensive review and synthesis of research, case reports, and state-level data.

Findings: Of the 42 case reports found, only 18 confirmed the presence of bath salts through laboratory testing. Twelve of the confirmed cases died. In most of the case reports, law enforcement was involved prior to hospitalization due to bizarre behaviors, delusions, and hallucinations.

Practice implications: Due to the severity of both physical and psychological symptoms in patients in bath salt-induced psychosis, nurses, other healthcare providers, police, and hospital security personnel must work collaboratively to provide safe care.

Keywords: Bath salt-induced psychosis; bath salts; psychosis; synthetic cathinones.