The same appears to be true of cigarette use, schizophrenics have a higher
rate of smoking than the general population. This also questions the
cannabis - psychosis link, this shows that perhaps people who are starting
to get psychotic symptoms self medicate with cannabis and nicotine.


Cognitive functioning enhanced by cannabis use in schizophrenia

1 November 2007

MedWire News: Cannabis use by patients with schizophrenia is associated
with enhanced cognitive functioning, with both frequency and recency of
use linked to better neuropsychological performance, conclude Australian
researchers.

There is a lack of understanding of the neuropsychological effects of
cannabis use in schizophrenia, partly due to conflicting evidence from the
few studies that have explored the association.

To investigate further, Carissa Coulston, from the University of Sydney in
New South Wales, and colleagues studied 60 males with
schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder and 17 healthy males, with the two
groups matched for age, years of education, and premorbid intelligence
quotient.

The researchers examined the participants' medical history, substance use,
and psychiatric symptoms, and a neuropsychological battery was
administered to determine attention/processing speed, executive functions,
memory, and perceptual organization. They also analyzed urine samples to
determine the patients' substance use within 24 hours of cognitive
assessment.

The control group performed significantly better than the schizophrenia
group on tests for psychomotor speed, inhibition speed, visual spatial
rule adherence, cognitive flexibility, and immediate memory components.

Focusing on cannabis use in schizophrenia patients, the researchers
discovered that 44 patients met the DSM-IV criteria for lifetime cannabis
abuse/dependence. Of these, 11 were high frequency users over the previous
year, seven were medium frequency users, and 34 were low frequency users.

In addition, 11 had cannabis abuse/dependence in the past week, seven had
non-dependent cannabis use in the past week, seven had non-dependent
cannabis use in the past month, but prior to the previous week, and nine
had non-dependent cannabis use prior to the past month.

Logistic regression analysis revealed that more patients with lifetime
cannabis abuse/dependence performed better on the psychomotor speed
component than those without lifetime abuse/dependence. Frequency and
recency of cannabis use were associated with better performance,
particularly on the attention/processing speed and executive function
domains.

While acknowledging the issues around cannabis use in schizophrenia
patients, the team concludes in the journal Schizophrenia Research: "In
essence, the findings of this study suggest that cannabinoids, via their
agonistic effects on cannabinoid receptors in the forebrain, may have a
potentially useful role in the treatment of high-order cognitive processes
known to be impaired in schizophrenia."


Source: Schizophr Res 2007; 96: 169-184

http://www.psychiatrysource.com/NewsItem/Cognitive-functioning-enhanced-by-cannabis-use-in-.aspx?l1=3&firstpage=true

-- 
Dr John Watson
Baker Street

"Dr John Watson"  wrote in message
news:5p0hauFor365U1@mid.individual.net...
> The same appears to be true of cigarette use, schizophrenics have a higher
> rate of smoking than the general population. This also questions the
> cannabis - psychosis link, this shows that perhaps people who are starting
> to get psychotic symptoms self medicate with cannabis and nicotine.

No it doesn't. Cannabinoids have potent neuroprotective qualities and there
is evidence that neurodegeneration is an problem in schizophrenia. Hence
pot consumption could simply be providing a neuro protective effect. I used
to sceptical about the psychosis link but I have met too many people who
have sworn off cannabis because of psychotic episodes and the evidence for
the link has been firming up.

Nicotine may also be providing a neuroprotective effect through ACH and to a
lesser extent nore.

The treatments for schizophrenia typically involve modulation of
glutaminergic transmission, either directly or indirectly via dopamine
activity. Cannabinoids have a lesser impact but can modulate signalling
because they act as retrograde inhibitory transmitters. This is further
supported by recent findings that schizophrenics have altered GAD 1, thus
limirting GABA activity.


>
> Cognitive functioning enhanced by cannabis use in schizophrenia
>
> 1 November 2007
>
> MedWire News: Cannabis use by patients with schizophrenia is associated
> with enhanced cognitive functioning, with both frequency and recency of
> use linked to better neuropsychological performance, conclude Australian
> researchers.
>
> There is a lack of understanding of the neuropsychological effects of
> cannabis use in schizophrenia, partly due to conflicting evidence from the
> few studies that have explored the association.
>
> To investigate further, Carissa Coulston, from the University of Sydney in
> New South Wales, and colleagues studied 60 males with
> schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder and 17 healthy males, with the two
> groups matched for age, years of education, and premorbid intelligence
> quotient.
>
> The researchers examined the participants' medical history, substance use,
> and psychiatric symptoms, and a neuropsychological battery was
> administered to determine attention/processing speed, executive functions,
> memory, and perceptual organization. They also analyzed urine samples to
> determine the patients' substance use within 24 hours of cognitive
> assessment.
>
> The control group performed significantly better than the schizophrenia
> group on tests for psychomotor speed, inhibition speed, visual spatial
> rule adherence, cognitive flexibility, and immediate memory components.
>
> Focusing on cannabis use in schizophrenia patients, the researchers
> discovered that 44 patients met the DSM-IV criteria for lifetime cannabis
> abuse/dependence. Of these, 11 were high frequency users over the previous
> year, seven were medium frequency users, and 34 were low frequency users.
>
> In addition, 11 had cannabis abuse/dependence in the past week, seven had
> non-dependent cannabis use in the past week, seven had non-dependent
> cannabis use in the past month, but prior to the previous week, and nine
> had non-dependent cannabis use prior to the past month.
>
> Logistic regression analysis revealed that more patients with lifetime
> cannabis abuse/dependence performed better on the psychomotor speed
> component than those without lifetime abuse/dependence. Frequency and
> recency of cannabis use were associated with better performance,
> particularly on the attention/processing speed and executive function
> domains.
>
> While acknowledging the issues around cannabis use in schizophrenia
> patients, the team concludes in the journal Schizophrenia Research: "In
> essence, the findings of this study suggest that cannabinoids, via their
> agonistic effects on cannabinoid receptors in the forebrain, may have a
> potentially useful role in the treatment of high-order cognitive processes
> known to be impaired in schizophrenia."
>
>
> Source: Schizophr Res 2007; 96: 169-184
>
>
http://www.psychiatrysource.com/NewsItem/Cognitive-functioning-enhanced-by-c
annabis-use-in-.aspx?l1=3&firstpage=true
>
> --
> Dr John Watson
> Baker Street
>

On Nov 2, 10:51 pm, Dr John Watson 
wrote:
> The same appears to be true of cigarette use, schizophrenics have a higher
> rate of smoking than the general population. This also questions the
> cannabis - psychosis link, this shows that perhaps people who are starting
> to get psychotic symptoms self medicate with cannabis and nicotine.
>
> Cognitive functioning enhanced by cannabis use in schizophrenia
>
> 1 November 2007
>
> MedWire News: Cannabis use by patients with schizophrenia is associated
> with enhanced cognitive functioning, with both frequency and recency of
> use linked to better neuropsychological performance, conclude Australian
> researchers.
>
> There is a lack of understanding of the neuropsychological effects of
> cannabis use in schizophrenia, partly due to conflicting evidence from the
> few studies that have explored the association.
>
> To investigate further, Carissa Coulston, from the University of Sydney in
> New South Wales, and colleagues studied 60 males with
> schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder and 17 healthy males, with the two
> groups matched for age, years of education, and premorbid intelligence
> quotient.
>
> The researchers examined the participants' medical history, substance use,
> and psychiatric symptoms, and a neuropsychological battery was
> administered to determine attention/processing speed, executive functions,
> memory, and perceptual organization. They also analyzed urine samples to
> determine the patients' substance use within 24 hours of cognitive
> assessment.
>
> The control group performed significantly better than the schizophrenia
> group on tests for psychomotor speed, inhibition speed, visual spatial
> rule adherence, cognitive flexibility, and immediate memory components.
>
> Focusing on cannabis use in schizophrenia patients, the researchers
> discovered that 44 patients met the DSM-IV criteria for lifetime cannabis
> abuse/dependence. Of these, 11 were high frequency users over the previous
> year, seven were medium frequency users, and 34 were low frequency users.
>
> In addition, 11 had cannabis abuse/dependence in the past week, seven had
> non-dependent cannabis use in the past week, seven had non-dependent
> cannabis use in the past month, but prior to the previous week, and nine
> had non-dependent cannabis use prior to the past month.
>
> Logistic regression analysis revealed that more patients with lifetime
> cannabis abuse/dependence performed better on the psychomotor speed
> component than those without lifetime abuse/dependence. Frequency and
> recency of cannabis use were associated with better performance,
> particularly on the attention/processing speed and executive function
> domains.
>
> While acknowledging the issues around cannabis use in schizophrenia
> patients, the team concludes in the journal Schizophrenia Research: "In
> essence, the findings of this study suggest that cannabinoids, via their
> agonistic effects on cannabinoid receptors in the forebrain, may have a
> potentially useful role in the treatment of high-order cognitive processes
> known to be impaired in schizophrenia."
>
> Source: Schizophr Res 2007; 96: 169-184
>
> http://www.psychiatrysource.com/NewsItem/Cognitive-functioning-enhanc...
>
> --
> Dr John Watson
> Baker Street

Isnt that right Pete

"John H."  wrote in message news:13iqq6lmcb0e3ed@corp.supernews.com...

> No it doesn't. Cannabinoids have potent neuroprotective qualities and there
> is evidence that neurodegeneration is an problem in schizophrenia. Hence
> pot consumption could simply be providing a neuro protective effect. I used
> to sceptical about the psychosis link but I have met too many people who
> have sworn off cannabis because of psychotic episodes and the evidence for
> the link has been firming up.

'Firming up'? If your hunches and personal anecdotes show up in actual
research, please don't hesitate to quote your source.

Everyone reading this, keep in mind that cannabis is no new drug, but
has been in use for literally thousands of years in Europe alone and has
been described by the Greeks and the Romans. (The Romans already
described the negative health effects of making your piping out of lead.
They must have missed to hemp induced psychosis.)

> Nicotine may also be providing a neuroprotective effect through ACH
> and to a lesser extent nore.

Does it also lead to psychotic episodes? Or just neurotic episodes?

"5trfg6h7"  wrote in message
news:473016b2$0$96147$dbd41001@news.wanadoo.nl...
> "John H."  wrote in message
news:13iqq6lmcb0e3ed@corp.supernews.com...
>
> > No it doesn't. Cannabinoids have potent neuroprotective qualities and
there
> > is evidence that neurodegeneration is an problem in schizophrenia. Hence
> > pot consumption could simply be providing a neuro protective effect. I
used
> > to sceptical about the psychosis link but I have met too many people who
> > have sworn off cannabis because of psychotic episodes and the evidence
for
> > the link has been firming up.
>
> 'Firming up'? If your hunches and personal anecdotes show up in actual
> research, please don't hesitate to quote your source.

I'm not your librarian, why don't you check the latest research. I don't
have a problem with pot smoking but I'm not going to blind myself to the
emerging picture. I used to also think the psychosis link was bunkum but I'm
an empiricist. The evidence from the literature is firming up. To fight
against that is to look churlishly puerile..

> Everyone reading this, keep in mind that cannabis is no new drug, but
> has been in use for literally thousands of years in Europe alone and has
> been described by the Greeks and the Romans. (The Romans already
> described the negative health effects of making your piping out of lead.
> They must have missed to hemp induced psychosis.)

How the hell can hemp induce psychosis? Cannabidol has no or little affinity
for CB1, however its impact on CB 2 suggests a wide range of therapeutic
possibilities. From athersclerosis to neuroprotection to inhibiting macular
degeneration. Try reading some research.

>
> > Nicotine may also be providing a neuroprotective effect through ACH
> > and to a lesser extent nore.
>
> Does it also lead to psychotic episodes? Or just neurotic episodes?

Tell me, why is nore significant in terms of neuroprotection? Or
acetylcholine for that matter. Care to explain why that happens?

Explain to me the basics of endogenous cannabinoid function.

It is naive to think that the ongoing heavy consumption of a substance is
without ill effect. As long as advocates of decriminalising\legalising
marijuana continue to run this dumbass argument we'll never get anywhere. I
am in favour of complete legalisation.

The best argument is this: most if not all prescribed psychoactive drugs
have a much greater risk profile than cannabis consumption. In this regard
psychiatrists are incredibly hypocritical.

Noticed at Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:50:40 +1000: John H. informed us:

> I'm not your librarian, why don't you check the latest research.

Debates work by justifying your own claims, not a second party who queries
them.

-- 
Dr John Watson
Baker Street

Noticed at Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:50:40 +1000: John H. informed us:

> The best argument is this: most if not all prescribed psychoactive drugs
> have a much greater risk profile than cannabis consumption. In this regard
> psychiatrists are incredibly hypocritical.

A better argument is that cannabis consumption is less dangerous than
alcohol and tobacco consumption, so drug substitution from alcohol/tobacco
to cannabis would have a net improvement in health.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5230006.stm#drugs 

-- 
Dr John Watson
Baker Street

On Nov 6, 10:59 pm, Dr John Watson 
wrote:
> Noticed at Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:50:40 +1000: John H. informed us:
>
> > The best argument is this: most if not all prescribed psychoactive drugs
> > have a much greater risk profile than cannabis consumption. In this regard
> > psychiatrists are incredibly hypocritical.
>
> A better argument is that cannabis consumption is less dangerous than
> alcohol and tobacco consumption, so drug substitution from alcohol/tobacco
> to cannabis would have a net improvement in health.
>
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5230006.stm#drugs
>
> --
> Dr John Watson
> Baker Street

No, put them in a position where they have to defend the multiple side
effects from pharma drugs and they end up being hoisted on their own
petard. They will run to the hills to avoid this argument.

The rejoinder to the less dangerous than is dead easy ... you want to
create another huge social problem? Also, there is scant evidence to
suggest that people will switch drugs just because pot becomes legally
available. If you run this argument you are in fact admitting that
legalising pot will result in much more people smoking now it is easy
to see how this can used to create horror stories of stoned psychotics
wondering the streets ....