Schizophrenia and cannabis use: Age matters

[beachguy in thongs]

Cannabis induces different cognitive changes in schizophrenic patients and in healthy controls.

It is known that 60 to 80% of schizophrenic patients show deficits in cognition. There may be an increase in these deficits as a result of additional regular use of cannabis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of chronic cannabis consumption on the cognitive functions of schizophrenic patients and healthy control subjects after a minimum abstinence time of 28 days. The study sample consisted of 39 schizophrenics (19 cannabis-abusers and 20 non-abusers) and 39 healthy controls (18 cannabis-abusers, 21 non-abusers). In a 2x2-factorial design (Diagnostic Groups [healthy controls, schizophrenic patients]xCannabis abuse [without, with]) with diagnostic group and cannabis consumption considered between-subject factors) we tested the hypothesis that dually diagnosed patients (i.e. suffering both from schizophrenia and cannabis abuse) perform worse in neuropsychological tests than schizophrenic patients without cannabis abuse. On the whole, schizophrenic patients performed worse than healthy control subjects. Surprisingly, rather than deteriorating neuropsychological performance, regular cannabis abuse prior to the first psychotic episode improved cognition in some tests. This was even more pronounced when regular consumption started before the age of 17. On the other hand, cannabis use deteriorated test performance in healthy controls, especially in cases when regular consumption started before the age of 17. To sum up, regular cannabis abuse has a different effect on cognitive function in schizophrenic patients and healthy controls.

Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2007 Jun 30;31(5):1054-63. Epub 2007 Mar 16.

Jockers-Scherübl MC, Wolf T, Radzei N, Schlattmann P, Rentzsch J, Gómez-Carrillo de Castro A, Kühl KP.

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Eschenallee 3, Berlin, Germany. [email protected]

[snowblind]

but this is widely know about schizophrenia, that if you are suseptable to it, cannabis is not a good idea. its is commonly thought schuzophrenia is triggered by a build up of seratonin in the brain, iw ecessive production, leading to increased receptors.

[thcbongman]

That's really interesting. My schizophrenic friend loves smoking marijuana and he really good at collecting information, he's an encyclopedia on certain topics. Although sometimes when he smokes, he starts talking to himself, using different voices, narrating what happening in his line of sight. I'm pretty use to it, but other people who don't know him are scared shitless. Sometimes I deny him because he can be too much on that shit!

[Mississippi Steve]

I used to be schizophrenic, but we're ok now.

[tuete]

more power to the smoking mentally ill

[Purple Banana]

I am a disorganized schizophrenic, in addition to having chronic pain and cysts on my ovaries- I have NEVER had a psychotic episode from cannabis. Ever. I smoke sativa-dominant strains, because indicas are rare around my parts, and sativa is much better for productivity.

I began showing symptoms when I was in my senior year of high school- I went away to college, and things became much worse. I didn't sleep for days, I had over 300 anxiety attacks per day, both of which exacerbated my chronic pain. I didn't eat. I was extremely depressed, I was cutting, I was completely void of a sense of empathy or caring for the entire world, my memory was atrocious, and I became very anti-social. I went from being the first high school student in my county to go to high school and college full time, to not being able to write a 2 page paper. The scariest part was the apathy. I didn't care about ANYTHING. I hurt a good amount of people emotionally, and lied without any sense of remorse. I feared I would be like Ted Bundy- I could easily act empathetic, but I felt NOTHING inside.

During the mid-spring semester of my sophomore year of college, I decided to withdraw from all of my classes, which were all failing grades. In the spring of that last semester, a great friend of mine introduced me to pot. My first few times were unsuccessful, as I never smoked cigarettes and didn't know how to inhale. I bought a quarter of mids, and practiced smoking, but things didn't work out. I took that quarter back home with me when I left school.

The following month, I bought a small personal bong. I loaded the bowl FULL, went out in the woods, and lit up. When I made my way back to my house, it still didn't kick in. 9 minutes later, I had a strange feeling in my head. A sudden warmth went down through my spine, arms, and shoulders. My pain was 90% better. I became very happy (and hungry!). It was 5 hours of just feeling amazing- I hadn't felt that much pain relief from the painkillers I was prescribed- only nausea and sluggishness.

Within a month, I was no longer depressed, my anxiety attacks were dramatically reduced to maybe one every other week, I was laughing, going out with friends. I returned to a community college in the fall, and my grades began to climb. I am now doing my second fall semester, and I'm looking forward to it.

As for my schizophrenia? I still have mild auditory hallucinations, and I can act goofy and a bit disorganized, but my memory is much better than it used to be, I am happier, and my pain is very well under control. I still have a bad day maybe once per month, but pot has given my ability to FEEL and empathize and I am no longer completely void of feeling...

Pot has been a miracle to me.

[beachguy in thongs]

I used to be schizophrenic, but we're ok now.

'Cause you guys started smoking Weed!!!

[angry nomad]

Wow, purple banana that is an awesome story about the way the sacred herb can help a person very much. Thanks for sharing.

[rguitar87]

im bipolar I...but I smoke. Meh. Last time I quit smoking weed I had a severe psychotic manic episode. Coincidence?

[Purple Banana]

Just to clear up- Schizophrenia is NOT NOT NOT multiple personality disorder. VERY common misconception.

[beachguy in thongs]

I've heard that before from someone who claimed they were schizophrenic. I guess, life is a crapshoot. If you started smoking weed before college, you better hope that you're schizophrenic.