Cannabis psychosis following bhang ingestion

Abstract

The purpose of this preliminary investigation is to systematically characterize the signs and symptoms of cannabis psychosis in individuals who presented for psychiatric treatment in Pakistan after ingestion of bhang; a beverage containing cannabis. In order to control for the behavioral effects of cannabis alone, symptoms produced by bhang ingestion among non-patients consuming the same beverage were compared with those symptoms found among psychotic patients. Patients differed from controls in that a higher proportion of patients were found to be chronic users of bhang, and had a past history of psychotic episodes. Presenting symptoms of bhang-induced psychosis found in patients included grandiosity, excitement, hostility, uncooperativeness, disorientation, hallucinatory behavior and unusual thought content. Neuroleptic treatment successfully attenuated psychotic symptoms within five days of the initiation of the episode. The presenting symptoms of bhang-induced psychosis are consistent with a brief mania-like disorder with paranoid psychotic features, and cognitive dysfunction. Several etiologic hypotheses are proposed.