Marijuana And Madness Psychiatry And Neurobiology

The second edition of this critically acclaimed and award-winning text provides a comprehensive overview of the psychiatry and neuroscience of Cannabis sativa (marijuana). It outlines the very latest developments in our understanding of the human cannabinoid system, and links this knowledge to clinical and epidemiological facts about the impact of cannabis on mental health. Clinically focused chapters review not only the direct psychomimetic properties of cannabis, but also the impact consumption has on the courses of evolving or established mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. Effects of cannabis on mood are reviewed, as are its effects on cognition. This new edition has been extensively updated and expanded with ten new chapters to incorporate major new research findings. This book will be of interest to all members of the mental health team, as well as to neuroscientists, epidemiologists, public health specialists and those involved in drug and alcohol research.

This comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the psychiatry and neuroscience of Cannabis sativa (marijuana) places particular emphasis on psychotic disorders. It outlines the latest research enhancing our knowledge of the human cannabinoid system, and links it to clinical and epidemiological facts about the impact of cannabis on mental health. Controversial issues are critically explored, including whether a discrete "cannabis psychosis" exists. - Publisher.

The second edition of this text provides a comprehensive overview of the psychiatry and neuroscience of Cannabis sativa (marijuana). It outlines the very latest developments in the understanding of the human cannabinoid system, and links this knowledge to clinical and epidemiological facts about the impact of cannabis on mental health. Clinically focused chapters review not only the direct psychomimetic properties of cannabis, but also the impact consumption has on the courses of evolving or established mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. Effects of cannabis on mood are reviewed, as are its effects on cognition. This new edition has been extensively updated and expanded with 10 new chapters to incorporate major new research findings. This book will be of interest to all members of the mental health team, as well as to neuroscientists, epidemiologists, public health specialists and those involved in drug and alcohol research.

Cannabis Use, Neurobiology, Psychology, and Treatment offers readers a comprehensive reference on neurological changes, both transient and long-term, and other factors surrounding the use of these compounds and extracts. With coverage of both natural and synthetic cannabinoids, this broad coverage allows readers to learn about both adverse and non-adverse effects, including reactivity to pain, changes in behavior, and neuroactivity. This volume provides a platform for research on the effects of these compounds in brain function and neurological dysfunction. Extracts from the Cannabis sativa plant contain scores of psychoactive compounds in addition to the principal agent tetrahydrocannabinol, many of which are neuroactive. Summarizes cannabis and cannabinoid research in relation to neurological function Contains chapter abstracts, key facts, a dictionary and a summary Covers the neuroactivity of multiple Cannabis compounds beyond tetrahydrocannabinol Includes conditions like depression, anxiety, Parkinson’s, psychosis, and epilepsy Discusses brain structure and brain development, including functional connectivity

The Complex Connection between Cannabis and Schizophrenia provides an in-depth overview of the current state of research into the role that cannabis plays in schizophrenia, covering both the pathophysiological and the pharmacological implications. It addresses the epidemiology of cannabis use and the risks associated with its use, the biological aspects of the drug, its effects on the brain and the pharmacological possibilities of using cannabidiol to treat schizophrenia. It is the only book on the market devoted exclusively to examining the links between this very commonly used (and misused) drug and a specific set of devastating psychiatric illnesses, providing a comprehensive guide to our current understandings of this relationship. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug globally, and is becoming increasingly decriminalized and even legalized worldwide. Among the numerous mental-health concerns related to the drug, there is mounting evidence of an intricate link between cannabis use and schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders. At the same time, there is promising evidence to suggest that cannabidiol, one of the many compounds found in cannabis that activates the brain’s cannabinoid receptors, could prove to be an effective antipsychotic to treat schizophrenia. Synthesizes existing knowledge about the confusing, but crucial, relationship between cannabis use and schizophrenia symptoms Provides a comprehensive overview of the neurobiological mechanisms of cannabis use and its effects on the brain, including an exploration of the endocannabinoid system Examines the promising evidence suggesting cannabidiol as an effective antipsychotic treatment for schizophrenia Aids readers studying the neurobiological underpinning of cannabis addiction and psychosis in determining directions for their own future research

Even while many states have passed legislation pertaining to "medical marijuana" and others have decriminalized or even legalized recreational use, a debate continues within society as to whether marijuana is simply a harmless substance that should be fully legalized, a possibly beneficial treatment for patients with certain illnesses, or a drug with the potential to worsen addiction and cause mental health problems. The controversy persists in the medical community as well, where accumulating evidence implicates marijuana use, especially in adolescence, as a risk factor for poor educational achievement and substance use disorders, as well as schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders -- all of which complicates the heated discourse on legalization. Although other books have explored the medical marijuana and the neuroscience behind marijuana, no single source of comprehensive information on marijuana and mental health in modern American society has existed to date. Balanced, focused, and highly readable, Marijuana and Mental Health fills this void. It provides an academic foundation for further study while also informing clinical mental health practice as well as policy decisions by articulating the connection between marijuana and mental health, particularly in the United States. Chapters offer a concise compilation of research in this area, discussing topics such as: The effects of marijuana on the brain and mind Marijuana-related legislation Medical marijuana Comorbidities between marijuana misuse and mood and anxiety disorders The complex link between marijuana use and psychotic disorders Synthetic cannabinoids Treatment and prevention of marijuana misuse Relatable clinical vignettes that contextualize these issues and illustrate the clinical applicability of the content, as well as key chapter points that emphasize major takeaways, make Marijuana and Mental Health the authoritative reference for clinical and research psychiatrists, psychiatric residents and fellows, clinical psychologists, and psychiatric nurses.

Over the years, there has been increasing interest into the public health impact of cannabis use, especially by young adults. This follows the evidence of a growing prevalence of regular cannabis use worldwide, with approximately 200 million users. Recreational cannabis use, especially a frequent use of products with high levels of its main psychoactive ingredient delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9-THC), can cause dependence and have transient and long-lasting detrimental mental health effects, also negatively impacting cognitive processing and brain function and metabolism. In regular users, the development of tolerance to some of the effects of cannabis, especially the pleasurable ones, may lead to progressively heavier use in order to obtain the same effects in terms of their intensity, with higher health risks. However, the Cannabis Sativa plant contains different chemicals with different potential effects. In this regard, cannabidiol has gained interest because of its potential therapeutic properties, in line with evidence that CBD and Δ9-THC may exhibit opposite effects at the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1), Δ9-THC being a partial agonist and CBD an antagonist/inverse agonist. Different cannabinoids may modulate human brain function and behavior in different ways, with different risk–benefit profiles.

The application of cannabis sativa for the treatment of neurologic and mental disease is expanding. Cannabinoids in Neurologic and Mental Disease collects and presents for the first time recent research involving the use of pharmacological cannabinoids for the treatment of neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory disease. The neurologic application of cannabinoid therapy builds upon psychiatric and psychological use for the treatment of a variety of core mental disorders. This comprehensive reference on the known uses of cannabinoids will be useful for clinical neurologists, neuroscience and clinical neuroscience researchers, clinical psychologists and psychiatrists and the general medical community. A comprehensive reference on the clinical uses of cannabinoids for treating major neurologic and mental diseases Detailed coverage of cannabinoid use for neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disease including Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease Detailed coverage of cannabinoid use for major psychiatric and psychological diseases and disorders including schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, Tourette's syndrome, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Marijuana is the most commonly used psychotropic drug in the United States, after alcohol. With the legalization and decriminalization of cannabis, momentum continues to build and propelled by the reduction of stigma associated to its consumption, there is growing concern regarding the long-term impact on brain function and behavior. Cannabis and the Developing Brain aims to provide comprehensive research on the effects of cannabis during neurodevelopment stages (i.e., perinatal and adolescent ages). This book introduces readers to vivo neural circuits, molecular and cellular mechanisms affected by cannabis exposure during three different temporal windows of brain vulnerability. Second, it offers a unique insight to shared neurobiological features of cannabinoid exposure during different developmental periods. Lastly, Cannabis and the Developing Brain determines the adverse impact of developmental cannabinoid exposure on specific cognition, emotion and behaviors. Reviews exposure effects on different areas and circuits of the brain Identifies effects of exposure at prenatal, perinatal, infant, and adolescent ages Includes cannabis interaction with known genetic and environmental risk factors Contains neurodevelopment and neuropsychiatric disorders associated with cannabis exposure