Toxic Psychosis With Transient Dysmnestic Syndrome Following Withdrawal From Valium

The psychosis which follows barbiturate withdrawal(2) is also often heralded by a grand-mal seizure. The delirium begins on about the third day, and includes agitation and hallucinations. Mayer-Gross(2) states that a dysmnestic syndrome following a delirium is not rare, usually occurs when consciousness is clear but that the delirium can recur at night. "Eventual recovery is almost invariable." Of interest is the fact that the patient reported hallucinations in four different sensory modalities.