Research Psychiatric Mood Disorders, Induced by Cannabis (Essay Sample)

Psychiatric mood disorders, induced by Cannabis
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A significant number of psychoactive or toxic substances can lead to psychotic reactions. Such of substance-induced psychosis always arise in many ways. First, a patient may unintentionally ingest toxic substances, either because of a mistake or they don't know any better. Alternatively, most people may take too much of a reasonably prescribed medication, drugs may act in unforeseen ways, or doctors may misjudge the effects of drugs they prescribe. Lastly, people may overindulge in recreational drugs they regularly use such as cannabis, alcohol and cocaine or become reliant on drugs or alcohol and get psychotic signs while after withdrawal (Bally, Zullino & Aubry, 2014).
While the substance-induced psychosis is activated and then persistent by withdrawal or intoxication, its effects can last for long after withdraw or intoxication has ended. There has been significant debate on whether there is a relationship between psychiatric disorder and chronic cannabis abuse. Medical practitioners agree that chronic cannabis use can lead to acute adverse psychological effects that are similar to mental disorders, such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia (Iskandar et al. 2011). The position of cannabis in psychiatric disorders has been a subject of discussion for a long period.
Epidemiological research have indicated that as the incidence of cannabis abuse rises, so does the possibilities for a psychotic disorder occurring such as schizophrenia. More research has also shown that cannabis is the most regularly used drug among people detected with bipolar disorder. Basing on the pharmacokinetics found in the psychoactive agent, the effects are noticeable within few minutes. 9-THC is very fatty soluble which can collect in lipid matters reaching peak concentrations within a period of 4 to 5 days. Afterward,it is gradually released back into the system of the human body, such as the brain, reaching high absorptions in the limbic, motor areas, neocortical and sensory (Nordegren, T. 2002). The material elimination half-life of 9-THC is estimated to occur within seven days and total eradication of a single dose last up to 1 month. Fascinatingly, the plasma levels of 9-THC poorly compare with urine levels, enabling the urine toxicology screen undefined test.
Cannabis use contributes to acute psychosis in many people and can lead to short-term exacerbations of pre-prevailing psychotic diseases. Cannabis intoxication also causes signs of paranoid ideas depersonalization, irrational panic and fear of dying, which correspond with acute poisoning and remitted rapidly (Bally, Zullino & Aubry, 2014). The cannabis patients show more symptoms of agitation and hypomania, fewer auditory hallucinations, incoherent speech, flattening of affect and hysteria than controls. Clouding of cognizance is not common to most cannabis users. They also exhibited marked developments in symptoms in a period of one week.
People who use cannabis regularly may show frequent short episodes of psychosis and maintain themselves in a severe psychotic state. It can be a possibility, but stated that it is not easy to differentiate between the occurrence of illness such as schizophrenia and a chronic cannabis psychosis with continued cannabis use (Iskandar et al. 2011). There is however, clear evidence that cannabis use may result in a psychotic illness that continues after abstinence. In particular research, it was established that 15 percent of cannabis abusers showed psychotic-like symptoms, which is associated with hearing voices or experiencing unwarranted feelings of torment. What some studies have failed to prove whether cannabis use is a cause or consequence of psychiatric disorders. Results from research reviews, established that the connection between psychotic and cannabis, two theories have been created.
The first theory explains that cannabis usage leads to psychotic symptoms in a healthy person that would not have happened when the victim abstained. The second theory is that cannabis abuse may catalyze psychosis in people who are prone to acquiring a psychotic disorder. Some cases have reported long depersonalization after termination of cannabis use. Signs and symptoms witnessed during drug-free periods are hardly reported. The critical role cannabis plays in causing bipolar disorder is documented in various scholarly articles. Epidemiological studies have positively indicated that bipolar disorder has the highest amount of substance misuse comorbidity of any axis I disorder. The Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) survey established that 41 percent of people who have bipolar disorder exhibited a comorbid substance usage with cannabis leading among the most regularly abused. Cannabis abuse before development of bipolar disorder has a major effect on first- experience mania and on the progress of the disease (Nordegren, T. 2002). A different research stated that abusing cannabis at baseline can considerably increase the dangers for manic symptoms through follow-up.
Recent developments in endogenous ligands and cannabinoid receptors have transformed interest in the methods by which cannabis can result in major psychiatric disorders. Current science now acknowledged that the endocannabinoid structure symbolizes a new signaling procedure in the nervous system that controls immune function, neurotransmitter systems, and energy metabolism. Scholars now consider that cannabis usage at the critical stages of brain growth can result in a strong disruption of the endocannabinoid system and eventually lead to a wrong hardwiring of the brain. Cannabis consumption plays a role in the complex interactions involving glutamate transmission, dopamine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) or other aspects that lead to psychotic disorders. Conversely, the issue remains as to why, in an overall population of cannabis addicts, do only a small portion exposed show a psychiatric illness.
There is a case of a young university student from a family with no history of any psychiatric illness, who developed psychosis secondary to cannabis abuse. The student psychosis continued long after even after stopping abusing cannabis, and he required to be treated therapeutically for new onset bipolar disorder that has psychotic types. In the real sense of no known hereditary predisposition, it is fascinating that cannabis triggered the psychosis, which justifies for further research into accepting that cannabis has a big effect on the neurotransmission at different receptors.
Different longitudinal studies and case studies have proved the link between mania related to cannabis and acute psychosis. The most noticeable symptoms elicited are depersonalization, auditory hallucinations, and fearful feelings of being victimized, realization, anxiety, irritability and grandiosity. The argument remains as to whether or not cannabis use can result in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia in a healthy person. Another example is presented when a young man, who was formerly healthy and was well functioning studying for bachelor’s degree in Math with a 3.3 grade-point average. The student was performing well in his course work (Iskandar et al. 2011). However, after observing him for a particular period, it was established that cannabis use can cause psychotic symptoms as he developed a more severe emotional and psychotic disorder.
Clinicians have anticipated several causing factors such as age of users, heavy usage length of users, and psychotic vulnerability. Some researchers have found out that youths are more vulnerable to the mental harm of cannabis since they may witness emotional problems that come along with cannabis use and, regular abuse may affect with personal and learning development. Given that heavy uses of cannabis among adolescences can cause a toxic psychosis, it is evident that it will exacerbate the symptoms of schizophrenia. However, clinical practice suggests that some cannabis patients assert that they use cannabis as a way of self-medication. For instance, Wasan et al. (2007) noted that 83 pati...