Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T07:31:37.907Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Bhang Psychosis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

V. R. Thacore
V. R. Thacore*
Affiliation:
King George's Medical College, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, India
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

The abuse of cannabis and its consequences to mental health have been a subject of much debate in recent years. While the literature is replete with reports of mental disturbances following acute intoxications (1, 4, 7, 15), the mental health implications of long-term abuse of cannabis remain speculative (9, 13). Since the drug possesses psychotomimetic and hallucinogenic (8) properties, prolonged experimentation with cannabis on human subjects is undesirable. The clinical manifestations of disturbed mental functioning due to chronic abuse of cannabis can therefore be best observed in societies where the drug is taken as a pastime, generally to enjoy pleasant euphoria. Such a situation is found in India where the use of cannabis has become woven into the general philosophy of life over the years. The drug is particularly used at religious ceremonies, and sweets and non-alcoholic beverages containing varying quantities of cannabis are traditionally offered and consumed during the colour-throwing festival of Holi.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 123 , Issue 573 , August 1973 , pp. 225 - 229
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1973

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

A synopsis of this paper was published in the February 1973 Journal.

References

1Ames, F. (1958). ‘A clinical and metabolic study of acute intoxication with cannabis sativa and its role in the model psychosis.’ Journal of Mental Science, 104, 972–99.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2Campbell, A. M. G., Evans, M., Thomson, J. L. G., and Williams, M. J. (1971). ‘Cerebral atrophy in young cannabis smokers.’ Lancet, ii, 1219–24.Google Scholar
3Chopra, R. N., Chopra, G. S., and Chopra, I. C. (1942). ‘Cannabis sativa in relation to mental diseases and crime in India.’ Indian Journal of Medical Research, 30, 155–71.Google Scholar
4Clark, L. D., Hughes, R., and Nakashima, E. H. (1970). ‘Behavioural effects of marihuana.’ Archives of General Psychiatry, 23, 193–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5Dhunjibhoy, J. E. (1930). ‘A brief resumé of the types of insanity commonly met with in India, with a full description of “Indian hemp insanity” peculiar to the country.’ Journal of Mental Science, 75, 254–64.Google Scholar
6Goodman, L. S., and Gilman, A. (1970). The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. London.Google Scholar
7Keeler, M. H. (1968). ‘Motivation for marihuana use: A correlation of adverse reaction.’ American Journal of Psychiatry, 125, 386–90.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8Keeler, M. H., Ewing, J. A., and Rouse, B. A. (1971). ‘Hallucinogenic effects of marijuana as currently used.’ American Journal of Psychiatry, 128, 213–16.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9Leading Article (1967). ‘A case for cannabis?’ British Medical Journal, iii, 258–9.Google Scholar
10May, A. R., Kahn, J. H., and Cronholm, B. (1971). ‘Alcohol and drug dependence’, in Mental Health of Adolescents and Young Persons. W.H.O. Public Health Papers, No. 41, Geneva.Google Scholar
11Meyer, R. E., Pillard, R. C., Shapiro, L. M., and Mirin, S. M. (1971). ‘Administration of marihuana to heavy and casual marihuana users.’ American Journal of Psychiatry, 128, 198–204.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12Oswald, I., Evans, J. I., and Lewis, S. A. (1969). ‘Addictive drugs cause suppression of paradoxical sleep with withdrawal rebound’, in Scientific Basis of Drug Dependence (ed. Steinberg, ). London.Google Scholar
13Special Sections: Marijuana (1971). ‘Marijuana and health: A report to the Congress.’ American Journal of Psychiatry, 128, 189–93.Google Scholar
14Spencer, D. J. (1971). ‘Cannabis-induced psychosis.’ International Journal of Addictions, 6, 323–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15Talbot, J. A., and Teague, J. W. (1969). ‘Marihuana psychosis. Acute toxic psychosis associated with the use of cannabis derivatives.’ Journal of the American Medical Association, 210, 299–302.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16Thacore, V. R., Saxena, R. C., and Kumar, R. (1971). ‘Epidemiology of drug abuse in Lucknow with special reference to methaqualone.’ Indian Journal of Pharmacology, 3, 58–65.Google Scholar
17Weil, A. T., Zinberg, N. E., and Nelson, J. M. (1968). ‘Clinical and psychological effects of marihuana in man.’ Science, 162, 1234–42.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.