Psychiatry related information on Marijuana Abuse

• Effective medications are available for treating nicotine, alcohol, and opiate dependence but not stimulant or marijuana dependence [1].
• The association with specific types of drug dependence was greatest for cocaine, amphetamine, and cannabis dependence [2].
• However, women were significantly more likely to have lifetime diagnoses of major depression and cocaine dependence, whereas men were more likely to have lifetime diagnoses of antisocial personality disorder and marijuana dependence [3].
• In the ever-dependent group, the GAF was lower; cannabis dependence higher; and Borderline, Schizotypal and Paranoid personality disorders more common [4].
• The rates for alcohol abuse, cannabis abuse, and major depressive disorder (single episode) were 2.0, 3.0, and 5.0, respectively [5].

High impact information on Marijuana Abuse

• MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported subsequent nonmedical use of prescription sedatives, hallucinogens, cocaine/other stimulants, and opioids; abuse or dependence on these drugs (including cannabis abuse/dependence); and alcohol dependence [6].
• OBJECTIVE: To examine whether associations between both lifetime cannabis dependence and early cannabis use and measures of MDD, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempt persist after controlling for genetic and/or shared environmental influences [7].
• In 1989, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) established its Medications Development Program. This program has concentrated on developing pharmacotherapies for opiate and cocaine dependence and, more recently, for methamphetamine and cannabis dependence [8].
• These data suggest that oral THC, but not divalproex, may be useful in the treatment of marijuana dependence [9].
• Radionuclide imaging of CB1 receptors in living human subjects would help explore the presently unknown physiological roles of this receptor system, as well as the neurochemical consequences of marijuana dependence [10].

Chemical compound and disease context of Marijuana Abuse

• CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that bupropion does not show promise as a potential treatment medication for marijuana dependence [11].
• A history of marijuana abuse also was associated with higher levels of platelet adenylyl cyclase activities, and a history of major depression was associated with lower levels of forskolin- and CsF-stimulated activities [12].
• Based on these preliminary data from three subjects, it is concluded that clonidine does not have therapeutic value in the clinical management of active marijuana abuse [13].
• 1. Twenty-one schizophrenic or schizoaffective patients with histories of cannabis abuse and operationally-defined syndromes of post-psychotic depression completed a double-blind trial of adjunctive imipramine added to their on-going medication regimen of fluphenazine decanoate and benztropine [14].
• The recent discovery of arachidonylethanolamide (anandamide), an endogenous ligand for cannabinoid receptors, and the synthesis of SR141716A, a cannabinoid antagonist selective for brain cannabinoid (CB1) receptors, have provided new tools to explore the mechanisms underlying cannabis abuse and dependence [15].

Biological context of Marijuana Abuse

• To address this issue we examined the eye movements of 22 schizophrenic patients, 20 substance abusing patients (primarily alcohol; some with concomitant cocaine and/or cannabis abuse), and 17 normal controls during a visual pursuit task using infra-red oculography [16].

Gene context of Marijuana Abuse

• Brain-derived neurotrophic factor serum concentrations are increased in drug-naive schizophrenic patients with chronic cannabis abuse and multiple substance abuse [17].
• Further research is needed to clarify the relationship of stimulant dependence with QEEG changes and ADHD status, and to clarify the interactions of chronic stimulant and cannabis abuse on QEEG [18].
• This might be reflected in the raised NGF-serum concentrations when both schizophrenia and long-term cannabis abuse prevail [19].
• Patients with previous cannabis abuse had significantly more rehospitalizations, tended to worse psychosocial functioning, and scored significantly higher on the psychopathological syndromes "thought disturbance" (BPRS) and "hostility" (AMDP) [20].
• A randomized controlled trial of brief cognitive-behavioral interventions (CBT) for cannabis dependence was undertaken to address this issue [21].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of Marijuana Abuse

• Quantitative EEG findings associated with chronic stimulant and cannabis abuse and ADHD in an adult male substance use disorder population [18].

References