Schizophreniform psychosis associated with chronic industrial toluene exposure: case report

Abstract

Toluene is a solvent commonly used in the workplace and, in the last 25 years, it has gained notoriety as a substance of abuse. The central nervous system sequelae of both occupational and illicit exposure to toluene have been documented, and irreversible cerebellar changes have been described. Previous reports of psychosis associated with toluene have emphasized its reversibility. We report a case of an irreversible schizophreniform psychosis associated with 5 years of continuous occupational exposure to toluene.