Marijuana-Induced Marijuana-Induced PsychosisPsychosis

Archana BalasubramanianArchana BalasubramanianJennifer LeeJennifer Lee

Yousuf MostafaYousuf Mostafa

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

Consciousness (Archana)Consciousness (Archana) Conclusion (Jennifer)Conclusion (Jennifer)

What is Psychosis?What is Psychosis? Definition – severe Definition – severe

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

Psychosis ContinuedPsychosis Continued From the encyclopedia we see that From the encyclopedia we see that

psychosis is a psychiatric classification psychosis is a psychiatric classification for a mental status in which the for a mental status in which the perception of reality is distorted.perception of reality is distorted.

Again confirming that it can be argued Again confirming that it can be argued that it is an alternative state of that it is an alternative state of consciousnessconsciousness

Psychosis and DiseasePsychosis and Disease Psychosis can be a feature of several Psychosis can be a feature of several

diseases, suggesting that a variety of diseases, suggesting that a variety of nervous system stressors can lead to a nervous system stressors can lead to a state of psychosis.state of psychosis.

Non-psychiatric Non-psychiatric ConditionsConditions

But there are some non-psychiatric But there are some non-psychiatric conditions that can cause psychosisconditions that can cause psychosis

Brain TumorBrain Tumor HyperglycemiaHyperglycemia IntoxicationIntoxication Multiple SclerosisMultiple Sclerosis SarcoidosisSarcoidosis

Altered State of Altered State of Consciousness TherapyConsciousness Therapy This is a program, ASCT, which helps teach This is a program, ASCT, which helps teach

patients how to consciously manipulate their patients how to consciously manipulate their affect and cognition to achieve a new state of affect and cognition to achieve a new state of consciousness.consciousness.

Marijuana Anonymous directs its members Marijuana Anonymous directs its members toward an altered state of consciousness toward an altered state of consciousness called a spiritual awakening but relapse occurs called a spiritual awakening but relapse occurs because of the failure to help members reach because of the failure to help members reach that altered state of consciousness without the that altered state of consciousness without the need of drugsneed of drugs

What is Marijuana?What is Marijuana? Common name for drug made from plant Common name for drug made from plant

Cannabis sativaCannabis sativa

Mind-altering ingredient THC (delta 9 Mind-altering ingredient THC (delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol)tetrahydrocannabinol)

Today’s marijuana is ten times more potent Today’s marijuana is ten times more potent than what was used in the 1970sthan what was used in the 1970s

Short Term EffectsShort Term Effects Faster heartbeatFaster heartbeat Faster pulse rateFaster pulse rate Bloodshot eyesBloodshot eyes Dry mouth and throatDry mouth and throat SleepinessSleepiness Decreased social Decreased social

inhibitionsinhibitions Impaired or reduced Impaired or reduced

comprehensioncomprehension

ParanoiaParanoia Increased anxiety or Increased anxiety or

panic attackspanic attacks Impair short term Impair short term

memory, alter sense of memory, alter sense of timetime

Reduced concentration, Reduced concentration, swift reactions, swift reactions, coordinationcoordination

Long Term EffectsLong Term Effects

Increased risk of cancerIncreased risk of cancer Decreased testosterone levels and lower Decreased testosterone levels and lower

sperm count for mensperm count for men Increased testosterone levels in women Increased testosterone levels in women

and risk of infertilityand risk of infertility Diminished or extinguished sexual Diminished or extinguished sexual

pleasurepleasure Psychological dependencePsychological dependence

VariablesVariables Amount takenAmount taken PotencyPotency Type of consumption (joint, bong, food)Type of consumption (joint, bong, food) Size, weight, health of individualSize, weight, health of individual Prior individual experiencePrior individual experience Taken alone or in groupTaken alone or in group

Effects on BrainEffects on Brain

THC -> sensory information -> THC -> sensory information -> hippocampushippocampus

Limbic system -> crucial for learning, Limbic system -> crucial for learning, memory, integration of experiencesmemory, integration of experiences

Neurons in hippocampus and nerve Neurons in hippocampus and nerve fibersfibers

Long term use produces changes in brain Long term use produces changes in brain similar to other drug abuse casessimilar to other drug abuse cases

BenefitsBenefits Multiple SclerosisMultiple Sclerosis GlaucomaGlaucoma Nausea caused by chemotherapyNausea caused by chemotherapy CancerCancer EpilepsyEpilepsy Chronic painChronic pain

Marijuana Induced Marijuana Induced PsychosisPsychosis

AmountAmount IntoxicationIntoxication FrequencyFrequency Past historyPast history

Hallmark SymptomsHallmark Symptoms

HallucinationsHallucinations DelusionsDelusions DepressionDepression ParanoiaParanoia AnxietyAnxiety Decreased social Decreased social

abilityability Lack of volitionLack of volition ApathyApathy Memory lossMemory loss

Subtypes of PsychosisSubtypes of Psychosis

I. ToxicI. Toxic ConfusionConfusion No prior history of No prior history of

psychosis psychosis RecoveryRecovery THC levelsTHC levels

II. Functional II. Functional No confusionNo confusion Prior history of Prior history of

psychosispsychosis Symptoms similar to Symptoms similar to

schizophreniaschizophrenia

Neural CorrelatesNeural Correlates THC THC

CB1 receptorCB1 receptor

D1 receptor -> DA transmissionD1 receptor -> DA transmission

The effects of Cannabis-based medicationThe effects of Cannabis-based medication

Marijuana Induced Marijuana Induced Psychosis: An ASCPsychosis: An ASC

Characterized by:Characterized by: Mild memory impairmentsMild memory impairments Distorted sense of the passage of timeDistorted sense of the passage of time Dream like euphoriaDream like euphoria Lose contact with reality Lose contact with reality Lose sense of control Lose sense of control DepersonalizationDepersonalization

Long term EffectsLong term Effects Mild Impairment in ConsciousnessMild Impairment in Consciousness

Chronic Psychosis after abstinenceChronic Psychosis after abstinence

A higher risk for Schizophrenia?A higher risk for Schizophrenia? Amotivational SyndromeAmotivational Syndrome

AnhedoniaAnhedonia ApathyApathy Memory LossMemory Loss Paranoid IdeationParanoid Ideation

Personal AccountsPersonal Accounts““The effects of this drug made me The effects of this drug made me socially paranoidsocially paranoid for for

months until I finally managed to months until I finally managed to stop smokingstop smoking it with it with the help of my girlfriend.”the help of my girlfriend.”

“ “ My son is one of the 10% or so that should not smoke My son is one of the 10% or so that should not smoke marijuana because they become marijuana because they become delusionaldelusional. They turn . They turn paranoidparanoid and think people are after them and and think people are after them and want to want to kill themkill them, even workmates. It places unbearable , even workmates. It places unbearable pressure on families. Please note that pressure on families. Please note that not all are not all are schizophrenicschizophrenic.”.”

Treatment of MJ Induced Treatment of MJ Induced PsychosisPsychosis

Abstinence from Marijuana Use Abstinence from Marijuana Use

NeurolepticsNeuroleptics

AntidepressantsAntidepressants

ConclusionConclusion Marijuana and CultureMarijuana and Culture

War on Drugs (Type 1 Drug)War on Drugs (Type 1 Drug) Organizations for LegalizationOrganizations for Legalization Controversial Medicinal UseControversial Medicinal Use Youth and DrugsYouth and Drugs

ReferencesReferences Boettcher, Dr. Brian. “Cannabis Psychosis” Boettcher, Dr. Brian. “Cannabis Psychosis” http://www.priory.com/psych/cannabis.htmhttp://www.priory.com/psych/cannabis.htm ““Cannabis law changes - have your say.” Newsbeat January 22, 2004. Cannabis law changes - have your say.” Newsbeat January 22, 2004.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/news/newsbeat/040122_cannabis_feedback.shtmlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/news/newsbeat/040122_cannabis_feedback.shtml ““Cannabis use and psychosis explained” Better Health Channel Cannabis use and psychosis explained” Better Health Channel

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/BHCLang.nsf/(LevelFour)/DE7359E9B719779E4A256B640083BBC5http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/BHCLang.nsf/(LevelFour)/DE7359E9B719779E4A256B640083BBC5?Open?Open

Clarke, Isabel. “Psychosis and Spirituality. Finding a Language.” June 2005. Clarke, Isabel. “Psychosis and Spirituality. Finding a Language.” June 2005. http://www.http://www.scispiritscispirit.com/Psychosis_spirituality/finding_a_language..com/Psychosis_spirituality/finding_a_language.htmhtm

Edwards, Mark. “An Alternative View on States.” June 2005. Edwards, Mark. “An Alternative View on States.” June 2005. http://www.integralworld.net/edwards14x.htmlhttp://www.integralworld.net/edwards14x.html Fact Sheet – Marijuana Fact Sheet – Marijuana www.well.com/user/woa/fspot.htm www.well.com/user/woa/fspot.htm John, Andrew. 2001. Psychiatric Effects of Cannabis. TheJohn, Andrew. 2001. Psychiatric Effects of Cannabis. The British Journal of Psychiatry, British Journal of Psychiatry, 178. p. 116-122.178. p. 116-122. “ “More evidence of cannabis-induced psychosis” March 31, 2005More evidence of cannabis-induced psychosis” March 31, 2005

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-03/bc-meo033005.phphttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-03/bc-meo033005.php National Institute on Drug Abuse National Institute on Drug Abuse http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/marijuana.htmlhttp://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/marijuana.html Nationmaster Encyclopedia. May 2005. Online Encyclopedia Nationmaster Encyclopedia. May 2005. Online Encyclopedia

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Psychosishttp://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Psychosis ““Re: Cannabis Induces Psychosis.” Yahoo Australia and NZ Message boards. March 25, 2005 Re: Cannabis Induces Psychosis.” Yahoo Australia and NZ Message boards. March 25, 2005

http://au.messages.yahoo.com/news/top-stories/3106/. http://au.messages.yahoo.com/news/top-stories/3106/. Sharpe (MD), Joseph. “Marijuana Induced Psychosis.” Sharpe (MD), Joseph. “Marijuana Induced Psychosis.”

http://psychiatry.mc.duke.edu/Residents/substance.htmlhttp://psychiatry.mc.duke.edu/Residents/substance.html Wo/Man’s Alliance for Medicinal Marijuana Wo/Man’s Alliance for Medicinal Marijuana http://www.http://www.wammwamm.org/.org/medicinalbenefitsmedicinalbenefits..htmhtm