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 veggie
Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 13,985
Loc: 
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 'Pot-induced psychosis' may signal schizophrenia 
#9178755 - 11/03/08 04:27 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Pot-induced psychosis may signal schizophrenia
November 3, 2008 - Reuters
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who have long-lasting psychotic episodes after smoking marijuana may be exhibiting early signs of schizophrenia, researchers reported Monday in the Archives of General Psychiatry.
"Cannabis-induced psychosis," in which a person loses touch with reality and the symptoms persist for at least 48 hours, is an established psychiatric diagnosis, but it is controversial, Dr. Mikkel Arendt of Aarhus University in Risskov, Denmark, and colleagues note in their report. There has been little research on the condition, and doctors have a hard time distinguishing it from other psychiatric disorders or developing a specific list of symptoms by which to characterize it.
In a previous study, Arendt and colleagues found that nearly half of people who had an episode of cannabis-induced psychosis went on to develop schizophrenia within the next six years. In the current study, the researchers looked at the genetic roots of both conditions by comparing the family histories of 609 people treated for cannabis-induced psychosis and 6,476 who had been treated for schizophrenia or a related psychiatric condition.
They found that individuals treated for post-pot smoking psychotic episodes had the same likelihood of having a mother, sister or other "first-degree" relative with schizophrenia as did the individuals who had actually been treated for schizophrenia themselves. This suggests that cannabis-induced psychosis and schizophrenia are one and the same, the researchers note. "These people would have developed schizophrenia whether or not they used cannabis," Arendt explained in comments to Reuters Health.
Based on the findings, the researcher says, "cannabis-induced psychosis is probably not a valid diagnosis. It should be considered schizophrenia."
It's "very common" for people to have psychotic symptoms after using marijuana, such as hearing voices, feeling paranoid, or believing one has some type of special ability, Arendt said. But these symptoms typically last only an hour or two. "It's a very important distinction, this 48 hours criterion," he said.
Other researchers have shown that pot smoking roughly doubles the risk of being diagnosed with schizophrenia, and that people who use marijuana and go on to develop schizophrenia become psychotic earlier than people with the illness who don't use cannabis, Arendt added.
It's unclear whether smoking marijuana causes schizophrenia or not, but if it does, according to the researcher, it's likely a gradual process. Nevertheless, he said, "the consensus is pretty much you should not use cannabis if you want to avoid an increased risk of schizophrenia."
Anyone who experiences an extended psychotic episode after using marijuana should get help, Arendt advised. These symptoms could represent an opportunity for early diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia, he added, and the earlier people with this illness begin treatment, the better their prognosis.
SOURCE: Archives of General Psychiatry, November 2008.
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 Gastronomicus
3-0-G
 
Registered: 03/31/05
Posts: 8,988
Loc: D-Town
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Re: 'Pot-induced psychosis' may signal schizophrenia [Re: veggie]
#9178939 - 11/03/08 05:03 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Send this to the brits.
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Make my Funk the P Funk, I wants to get Funked up
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BlindSophist
drunken preacher
Registered: 07/11/06
Posts: 20,221
Loc: SF Bay Area
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Re: 'Pot-induced psychosis' may signal schizophrenia [Re: Gastronomicus]
#9179520 - 11/03/08 06:57 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Pretty fascinating article. It shouldn't come as a surprise to most of us, but it's a good affirmation, as well as yet another strike in marijuana's favor in the ongoing battle for decriminalization.
If anything, it seems to imply you SHOULD smoke weed; if it happens to drive you crazy for 48 hours rather than just a couple, you know you need help. Makes perfect sense to me. Better sooner than later.
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Love of one is a barbarism; for it is exercised at the expense of all others. The love of God, too.
--Friedrich Nietzsche
  
Edited by Tchan909 (11/03/08 07:00 PM)
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ToiletDuk
Cat Psychiatrist
Registered: 05/16/03
Posts: 73,285
Loc: Earthfarm 1
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Re: 'Pot-induced psychosis' may signal schizophrenia [Re: Gastronomicus]
#9179863 - 11/03/08 07:58 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
Gastronomicus said:
Send this to the brits.
Naw, the media there would just twist the story around to make skunkweed look bad.
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NobodyImportant
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Re: 'Pot-induced psychosis' may signal schizophrenia [Re: BlindSophist]
#9179887 - 11/03/08 08:01 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
Tchan909 said:
Pretty fascinating article. It shouldn't come as a surprise to most of us, but it's a good affirmation, as well as yet another strike in marijuana's favor in the ongoing battle for decriminalization.
If anything, it seems to imply you SHOULD smoke weed; if it happens to drive you crazy for 48 hours rather than just a couple, you know you need help. Makes perfect sense to me. Better sooner than later.
I was thinking this too
nice to know im probably not schizophrenic
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NastyDHL
breaking the cycles
Registered: 04/04/08
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Re: 'Pot-induced psychosis' may signal schizophrenia [Re: veggie]
#9180486 - 11/03/08 09:39 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Didn't read the article, I just want to say; enjoy your time and your weed, getting high can be a great time.
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BlindSophist
drunken preacher
Registered: 07/11/06
Posts: 20,221
Loc: SF Bay Area
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Re: 'Pot-induced psychosis' may signal schizophrenia [Re: NobodyImportant]
#9181246 - 11/04/08 05:15 AM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
NobodyImportant said:
nice to know im probably not schizophrenic
Ditto. 
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Love of one is a barbarism; for it is exercised at the expense of all others. The love of God, too.
--Friedrich Nietzsche
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bloodsheen
ChemChaplin
Registered: 09/24/08
Posts: 1,076
Last seen: 1 day, 7 hours
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Re: 'Pot-induced psychosis' may signal schizophrenia [Re: BlindSophist]
#9183124 - 11/04/08 02:09 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Its a shame the media could very easily make this seem like smoking pot makes you schizo, cause otherwise this is a good article. I had never even heard of marijuana-induced psychosis, i thought that was like a 50's joke or something. Thank god im not a schizo!
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A cautious young fellow named Lodge / Had seat belts installed in his Dodge. / When his date was strapped in / He committed a sin / Without even leaving the garage. That's clever, isn't it?-A boy and his dog
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monkeywrench
Why Not?
Registered: 09/16/08
Posts: 908
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Re: 'Pot-induced psychosis' may signal schizophrenia [Re: bloodsheen]
#9183679 - 11/04/08 04:01 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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psychosis is fun.
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[quote]skalthren said:
It's nice of you to imply that I've been brainwashed by the government, but the truth is that I'm simply intelligent enough to recognize the subtleties of these issues instead of going "durr hurr, weed should totally be legal!"[/quote]
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 Nature Boy
Stranger than most
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Re: 'Pot-induced psychosis' may signal schizophrenia [Re: veggie]
#9184270 - 11/04/08 05:47 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
veggie said:
Pot-induced psychosis may signal schizophrenia
November 3, 2008 - Reuters
Other researchers have shown that pot smoking roughly doubles the risk of being diagnosed with schizophrenia, and that people who use marijuana and go on to develop schizophrenia become psychotic earlier than people with the illness who don't use cannabis, Arendt added.
OR...the exact reverse may be true. Shizophrenics may crave THC as in the case of schizophrenia and NICOTINE ABUSE. Schizophrenics are very frequently HEAVY smokers - the theory being that individuals who have schizophrenia have brains which CRAVE the related nicotine molecule in a vain attempt at correcting their abberant brain (dopamine) chemistry.
I read a journal article on this nicotine/schizophrenia connection about a month ago. Its in my office library somewhere. Maybe this is a similar phenomena. A higher percentage of individuals who are (or are destined to be) schizophrenic gravitate to smoking pot.
So...its schizophrenia that leads to pot smoking, not pot smoking that leads to schizophrenia.
N.B.
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All submitted posts are by Someone Who Isn't Me (SWIM) - and in any event are works of pure fiction or outright lies. Any information, statement, or assertion contained therein should be considered pure unadulterated bullshit. Note well: Sorry, but I no longer answer PM's unless you are a long-time trusted friend, so don't bother. If you have a question, ask it in the appropriate thread...no exceptions. Anyone with less than 1,000 posts is automatically assumed to be a cop.
 
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Roxum
Stranger
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Re: 'Pot-induced psychosis' may signal schizophrenia [Re: Nature Boy]
#9195490 - 11/06/08 12:09 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
Nature Boy said:
Quote:
veggie said:
Pot-induced psychosis may signal schizophrenia
November 3, 2008 - Reuters
Other researchers have shown that pot smoking roughly doubles the risk of being diagnosed with schizophrenia, and that people who use marijuana and go on to develop schizophrenia become psychotic earlier than people with the illness who don't use cannabis, Arendt added.
OR...the exact reverse may be true. Shizophrenics may crave THC as in the case of schizophrenia and NICOTINE ABUSE. Schizophrenics are very frequently HEAVY smokers - the theory being that individuals who have schizophrenia have brains which CRAVE the related nicotine molecule in a vain attempt at correcting their abberant brain (dopamine) chemistry.
I read a journal article on this nicotine/schizophrenia connection about a month ago. Its in my office library somewhere. Maybe this is a similar phenomena. A higher percentage of individuals who are (or are destined to be) schizophrenic gravitate to smoking pot.
So...its schizophrenia that leads to pot smoking, not pot smoking that leads to schizophrenia.
N.B.
Both could be true
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Back and out of the Army!
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durian_2008
Registered: 04/02/08
Posts: 1,912
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Re: 'Pot-induced psychosis' may signal schizophrenia [Re: Roxum]
#9196877 - 11/06/08 04:21 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
It's "very common" for people to have psychotic symptoms after using marijuana, such as hearing voices, feeling paranoid, or believing one has some type of special ability, Arendt said.
Can the ability be scientifically tested?
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durian_2008
Registered: 04/02/08
Posts: 1,912
Last seen: 1 day, 16 hours
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Re: 'Pot-induced psychosis' may signal schizophrenia [Re: durian_2008]
#9206522 - 11/08/08 09:37 AM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
pot smoking roughly doubles the risk of being diagnosed with schizophrenia
And, schizo's are described with the same symptoms claimed by psychics...
A plant calls out to you. (Mild schizo/psychic.) You take it. Your mind is opened. (More schizo/psychic.)
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