Psychiatric complications of cannabis use

Abstract

Natural and synthetic cannabinoids modify the modulatory activity of the endocannabinoid system. Psychiatric complications induced by cannabis are analyzed, i.e. those that start with intoxication but persist beyond the removal of the drug (cognitive, psychotic and anxiety disorders) and the development of addictive behavior. Adolescence is the period of greatest vulnerability to cognitive impact. Cannabis-induced psychosis has been linked to consumption of high concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol and personality traits of anxiety and somatization. The incidence of anxiety is related to the cannabinoid effect but even more with neurobiological changes of addiction.