We have noticed in our clinical practice a few patients with psychoses whose mental health was affected by the use of Benzylpiperazine related compounds. Benzylpiperazine and related compounds were sold legally in the UK until March 2007 when they were declared illegal. They are still legal in New Zealand whilst it is classified as a Class one drug along with LSD, cocaine and cannabis in the USA, Sweden, Denmark and Greece.

To understand the effect of Benzylpiperazine based party pills on the mental health of a patient who already had a diagnosis of Schizophrenia.

We followed up the clinical psychopathology of the patient while he was in our acute Psychiatry ward in 2007 during an admission precipitated by the use of Benzylpiperazine based party pills. Also we went through his previous notes to find out the symptomatology during all his previous admissions and outpatient appointments.

Use of Benzylpiperazine based party pills resulted in manic symptoms in this patient with Schizophrenia who did not have these symptoms until he started using the party pills.

Benzylpiperazine based party pills have mood elevating properties and also induce insomnia in users. From our anecdotal experience it is seen that in patients with mental illness this leads to non compliance with medications and may also induce manic symptoms. Benzylpiperazine based drugs of abuse have been less well researched compared to other drugs of abuse.