How marijuana use leads to severe mental disorder

How marijuana use leads to severe mental disorder

IANSUpdated: Friday, May 31, 2019, 08:22 PM IST
article-image

New York: Cannabis or marijuana use increases neural noise in the brain, leading to a severe mental disorder in which thought and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality, says an Indian-origin researcher.

The team from Yale University found that a primary active constituent of cannabis induces transient psychosis-like effects in healthy participants similar to those observed in schizophrenia.

“At doses roughly equivalent to half or a single joint, the compound called ‘?9-THC’ produced psychosis-like effects and increased neural noise in humans,” explained senior author Dr Deepak Cyril D’Souza, professor of psychiatry.

The findings suggest that increased neural noise may play a role in the psychosis-like effects of cannabis.

The investigators studied the effects of “?9-THC” on electrical brain activity in 24 human subjects who participated in a three-day study.

If confirmed, the link between neural noise and psychosis could shed light on the biology of some of the symptoms associated with schizophrenia.

“This interesting study suggests a commonality between the effects on the brain of the major active ingredient in marijuana and symptoms of schizophrenia,” stated Dr John Krystal, editor of the journal Biological Psychiatry that published the paper.

RECENT STORIES

Revolutionising Cancer Care: US & India Join Forces For Ground-breaking Collaboration

Revolutionising Cancer Care: US & India Join Forces For Ground-breaking Collaboration

Activists Write To PM Modi Over TB Drug Shortage Ahead Of World TB Day

Activists Write To PM Modi Over TB Drug Shortage Ahead Of World TB Day

Holi 2024: Say Bye-Bye To Skin Allergy With This Simple Home Remedy

Holi 2024: Say Bye-Bye To Skin Allergy With This Simple Home Remedy

Controversy Surrounds New Uniform Code For Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices

Controversy Surrounds New Uniform Code For Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices

Mumbai: Nepali Couple Turns To Wadia Hospital To Save Child's Arm From Amputation

Mumbai: Nepali Couple Turns To Wadia Hospital To Save Child's Arm From Amputation