Marijuana-Induced%20Psychosis

1
Marijuana-Induced Psychosis

• Archana Balasubramanian
• Jennifer Lee
• Yousuf Mostafa

2
Outline

• Introduction (Yousuf)
• Psychosis and Consciousness (Yousuf)
• Marijuana and its Effects (Jennifer)
• Marijuana-Induced Psychosis (Archana)
• Marijuana-Induced Psychosis and Consciousness
  (Archana)
• Conclusion (Jennifer)

3
What is Psychosis?

• Definition severe mental disorder, with or
  without organic damage, characterized by
  derangement of personality and loss of contact
  with reality and causing deterioration of normal
  social functioning

4
Psychosis Continued

• From the encyclopedia we see that psychosis is a
  psychiatric classification for a mental status in
  which the perception of reality is distorted.
• Again confirming that it can be argued that it is
  an alternative state of consciousness

5
Psychosis and Disease

• Psychosis can be a feature of several diseases,
  suggesting that a variety of nervous system
  stressors can lead to a state of psychosis.

6
Non-psychiatric Conditions

• But there are some non-psychiatric conditions
  that can cause psychosis
• Brain Tumor
• Hyperglycemia
• Intoxication
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Sarcoidosis

7
Altered State of Consciousness Therapy

• This is a program, ASCT, which helps teach
  patients how to consciously manipulate their
  affect and cognition to achieve a new state of
  consciousness.
• Marijuana Anonymous directs its members toward an
  altered state of consciousness called a spiritual
  awakening but relapse occurs because of the
  failure to help members reach that altered state
  of consciousness without the need of drugs

8
What is Marijuana?

• Common name for drug made from plant Cannabis
  sativa
• Mind-altering ingredient THC (delta 9
  tetrahydrocannabinol)
• Todays marijuana is ten times more potent than
  what was used in the 1970s

9
Short Term Effects

• Faster heartbeat
• Faster pulse rate
• Bloodshot eyes
• Dry mouth and throat
• Sleepiness
• Decreased social inhibitions
• Impaired or reduced comprehension

• Paranoia
• Increased anxiety or panic attacks
• Impair short term memory, alter sense of time
• Reduced concentration, swift reactions,
  coordination

10
Long Term Effects

• Increased risk of cancer
• Decreased testosterone levels and lower sperm
  count for men
• Increased testosterone levels in women and risk
  of infertility
• Diminished or extinguished sexual pleasure
• Psychological dependence

11
Variables

• Amount taken
• Potency
• Type of consumption (joint, bong, food)
• Size, weight, health of individual
• Prior individual experience
• Taken alone or in group

12
Effects on Brain

• THC -gt sensory information -gt hippocampus
• Limbic system -gt crucial for learning, memory,
  integration of experiences
• Neurons in hippocampus and nerve fibers
• Long term use produces changes in brain similar
  to other drug abuse cases

13
Benefits

• Multiple Sclerosis
• Glaucoma
• Nausea caused by chemotherapy
• Cancer
• Epilepsy
• Chronic pain

14
Marijuana Induced Psychosis

• Amount
• Intoxication
• Frequency
• Past history

15
Hallmark Symptoms

• Hallucinations
• Delusions
• Depression
• Paranoia
• Anxiety

• Decreased social ability
• Lack of volition
• Apathy
• Memory loss

16
Subtypes of Psychosis

• I. Toxic
• Confusion
• No prior history of psychosis
• Recovery
• THC levels

• II. Functional
• No confusion
• Prior history of psychosis
• Symptoms similar to schizophrenia

17
Neural Correlates

• THC
• CB1 receptor
• D1 receptor -gt DA transmission
• The effects of Cannabis-based medication

18
Marijuana Induced Psychosis An ASC

• Characterized by
• Mild memory impairments
• Distorted sense of the passage of time
• Dream like euphoria
• Lose contact with reality
• Lose sense of control
• Depersonalization

19
Long term Effects

• Mild Impairment in Consciousness
• Chronic Psychosis after abstinence
• A higher risk for Schizophrenia?
• Amotivational Syndrome
• Anhedonia
• Apathy
• Memory Loss
• Paranoid Ideation

20
Personal Accounts

• The effects of this drug made me socially
  paranoid for months until I finally managed to
  stop smoking it with the help of my girlfriend.
• My son is one of the 10 or so that should not
  smoke marijuana because they become delusional.
  They turn paranoid and think people are after
  them and want to kill them, even workmates. It
  places unbearable pressure on families. Please
  note that not all are schizophrenic.

21
Treatment of MJ Induced Psychosis

• Abstinence from Marijuana Use
• Neuroleptics
• Antidepressants

22
Conclusion

• Marijuana and Culture
• War on Drugs (Type 1 Drug)
• Organizations for Legalization
• Controversial Medicinal Use
• Youth and Drugs

23
References

• Boettcher, Dr. Brian. Cannabis Psychosis
  http//www.priory.com/psych/cannabis.htm
• Cannabis law changes - have your say. Newsbeat
  January 22, 2004. http//www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/new
  s/newsbeat/040122_cannabis_feedback.shtml
• Cannabis use and psychosis explained Better
  Health Channel http//www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/
  bhcv2/BHCLang.nsf/(LevelFour)/DE7359E9B719779E4A25
  6B640083BBC5?Open
• Clarke, Isabel. Psychosis and Spirituality.
  Finding a Language. June 2005.
  http//www.scispirit.com/Psychosis_spirituality/fi
  nding_a_language.htm
• Edwards, Mark. An Alternative View on States.
  June 2005. http//www.integralworld.net/edwards14x
  .html
• Fact Sheet Marijuana www.well.com/user/woa/fspot
  .htm
• John, Andrew. 2001. Psychiatric Effects of
  Cannabis. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 178.
  p. 116-122.
• More evidence of cannabis-induced psychosis
  March 31, 2005 http//www.eurekalert.org/pub_relea
  ses/2005-03/bc-meo033005.php
• National Institute on Drug Abuse
  http//www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/marijuana.html
• Nationmaster Encyclopedia. May 2005. Online
  Encyclopedia http//www.nationmaster.com/encyclope
  dia/Psychosis
• Re Cannabis Induces Psychosis. Yahoo Australia
  and NZ Message boards. March 25, 2005
  http//au.messages.yahoo.com/news/top-stories/3106
  /.
• Sharpe (MD), Joseph. Marijuana Induced
  Psychosis. http//psychiatry.mc.duke.edu/Residen
  ts/substance.html
• Wo/Mans Alliance for Medicinal Marijuana
  http//www.wamm.org/medicinalbenefits.htm