Cannabis Induced Psychopathology

Legalization and commercialization of marijuana in the US have reduced perceived risks of cannabis use across all age groups, reinforcing the misconception that cannabis abuse and dependence are safe and without neuropsychiatric consequences. Cannabis use has acute effects like psychosis and agitation, and long-term consequences including cognitive decline, permanent psychotic disorders, prolonged depersonalization, dependence, and withdrawal. Repeated cannabis exposure is an established contributory cause of schizophrenia through gene-environment interaction, involving multiple genes. In utero cannabinoid exposure impairs brain maturation in developing infants and predisposes them to neurodevelopmental disorders. Clinicians should be aware of these risks and can offer treatments to achieve abstinence and neuroprotective strategies for new-onset cannabis-induced psychosis and in utero exposure.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The recent trend towards legalization and commercialization of marijuana in the US has resulted in a significant drop in the perceived risks of cannabis use among all age groups. Thus, legalization has further advances the common misperception that cannabis abuse and dependence are generally safe and devoid of neuropsychiatric sequelae. Yet there are numerous acute, as well as numerous long-term neuropsychiatric consequences of cannabis use. In addition to acute psychosis and agitation, this review will discuss the long-term issues of cognitive decline, permanent psychotic disorders, syndromes of prolonged depersonalization, as well as psychological and physical dependence, and related withdrawal symptoms. Cannabis use, particularly repeated exposure, is an established contributory cause of schizophrenia by way of a classic gene-environment interaction, with the vulnerabilities associated with cannabis-induced schizophrenia involving multiple genes. There is also evidence that in utero cannabinoid exposure will impair brain maturation in developing infants and predispose them to neurodevelopmental disorders during childhood. This summary will inform clinicians of the most prevalent consequences associated with cannabis abuse and dependence, and better equip them to educate patients as to these risks. Further, there are treatments that may help patients achieve abstinence, and even neuroprotective strategies to employ in cases of new-onset cannabisinduced psychosis, as well as for cases of in utero exposure.