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Has 'psychosis' been redefined?
archiver
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The news that "Smoking potent cannabis was linked to 24% of new psychosis cases analysed in a study by King's College London" came as quite a shock to me.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-31480234
The Wiki article on psychosis still says "Psychosis (as a sign of a psychiatric disorder) is a diagnosis of exclusion. That is, a new-onset episode of psychosis is not considered a symptom of a psychiatric disorder until other relevant and known causes of psychosis are properly excluded." (my underline). Psychoactive substances are specifically mentioned.
The article seems to me to suggest those who present with symptoms of psychosis, for the obvious reason that they use potent cannabis more often than is good for them, are now to be included in the big melting pot of Psychiatric Disorder. A new low tactic in the war on a particular drug which I'm sure helps many more people than end up needing help.
Worryingly, the BBC article says (about the availability of very strong cannabis) "In London, it's very difficult to find anything else" Well isn't that the real tragedy? It's well known there are two (main) active chemicals in all marijuana. Some are grown for their high THC proportion and some for CBD. The latter is thought to have most of the healing properties without the psychedelic "problem".
I hope anyone deciding to try some for the first time, or even anyone who thinks what they get hold of today is the same as they tried twenty years ago, is sensible enough to be very careful with the amount they use, and not be drawn into some stupid macho contest like it's alcohol.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-31480234
The Wiki article on psychosis still says "Psychosis (as a sign of a psychiatric disorder) is a diagnosis of exclusion. That is, a new-onset episode of psychosis is not considered a symptom of a psychiatric disorder until other relevant and known causes of psychosis are properly excluded." (my underline). Psychoactive substances are specifically mentioned.
The article seems to me to suggest those who present with symptoms of psychosis, for the obvious reason that they use potent cannabis more often than is good for them, are now to be included in the big melting pot of Psychiatric Disorder. A new low tactic in the war on a particular drug which I'm sure helps many more people than end up needing help.
Worryingly, the BBC article says (about the availability of very strong cannabis) "In London, it's very difficult to find anything else" Well isn't that the real tragedy? It's well known there are two (main) active chemicals in all marijuana. Some are grown for their high THC proportion and some for CBD. The latter is thought to have most of the healing properties without the psychedelic "problem".
I hope anyone deciding to try some for the first time, or even anyone who thinks what they get hold of today is the same as they tried twenty years ago, is sensible enough to be very careful with the amount they use, and not be drawn into some stupid macho contest like it's alcohol.
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I'm not sure one can come to any meaningful conclusion from such a limited study.
I see the Home Office has responded with the usual nonsense about how the war on drugs is working despite all the evidence to the contrary. How depressingly predictable.
It is a temporary state of mind, and is a symptom of mental health conditions, such as Schozophrenia and Bipolar (which I have).
It is not an illness in itself, and on its own, it is not sufficient to diagnose a mental illness.
People can have a psychotic episode and not have a mental illness, such as sometimes happens to people when they are in hospital - hospital delirium I think it's called, or as a result of a trauma.
The BBC report does not contradict this, unless I've missed something obvious.
I think what the report is saying is that there is a link between Skunk, and illness that cause psychosis, such as the two I mentioned above.
I suppose you could have a random episode of psychosis, due to smoking cannabis, which may not be a symptom of an underlying illness.
Legal highs of various sorts are a much worse prospect for causing psychotic states.
Although there is no physical addiction, often, there is a psychological addiction, and this can be much harder to shift.
In addition, although I accept this is anecdotal, all of the marijuana users I've encountered have had psychotic episodes.
Keep in mind though, that these are heavy users, whereby often they just can't cope without, 'taking the edge off,'
I have yet to encounter short-term recreational use being an issue..
I also suffer from psychosis, but only as a symptom of other mental disorders. I suppose you could say that I normally have psychosis, but the difference is that I can normally differentiate it from reality with insight. Sometimes I lose the insight
Yes ADHD is yet just one other 'invented' illness of modern times so that the acroynm idex can get even bigger and more pills prescribed. a bit more corporal punishment would sort it all out
adhd is a very real disorder, i have a son with it. he has three older siblings who were all bought up the same, all were "normal", well behaved children. his childhood was an absolute nightmare for us all. he wasn`t diagnosed until adulthood [and has never been medicated for it] so we had no help and violence most certainly wasn`t the answer.
No, as I see it. from the wording you have quoted above, it is saying that it is not a psychiatric disorder until drugs as a cause are excluded. If drugs are the cause, it is not regarded as symptomatic of a psychiatric disorder.
Jesus wept
There is no excuse for this ignorance about mental illness in this day and age.
I suppose PTSD is also an invented illness?
High strength super-skunk can cause psychosis like symptoms hardly seems newsworthy.
"Counterintuitive" eh. Is it difficult to understand why people making purchases of illegal substances don't get much choice, or even know the strength and THC/CBD proportions of what they're getting?
They actually make quite a good argument for freedom of choice in the matter and decriminalisation.
* mental health problem
* trauma
* lack of sleep
* use of street drugs
* prescribed medication
It may be a one off episode, it may be something that recurs.
http://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/psychosis/causes/#.VOIUetFyb6U
Didn't we used to call one-off psychotic episodes caused by cannabis "being high"?
I think there may be a difference.
and it`s huge.
I suppose we've had one example of somebody thinking there's a family of squirrels living between the ceiling and the floor above (which isn't actually impossible), but what about other examples.
Now before anybody has a go, I'm truly posing this next example as a genuine query into the definition - honestly
Many devout Christians commonly display all the symptoms of psychosis (as I understand it), often claiming euphoric episodes, hearing voices, producing bizarre distortions and interpretations of natural events, etc. Exactly what is the difference?
the squirrels were real, squirrel infestation is common and there were many clues and a sane witness, i wasn`t psychotic at that time.
put simply it`s a loss of touch with reality.
edit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis
Now I'm not saying it was the weed that caused it (although that's how it was sold to us at the time) I do wonder if the high levels of TCH triggered something underlining. I mean the guy was a HEAVY user.
That said I've a friend still who apart from a few years of derailment , hasn't suffered any adverse effect of her 15 year habit.
It's all about the amount I'm sure.
no worries.
my solution was creative, i suspect it was THAT that wasn`t "got" by the medics.
I guess the difference with religious experience is that most of them know deep down it's not real, but persuade themselves it is through will and suggestibility. Hence why it falls under delusion rather than psychosis. In psychosis, the people don't just "believe" it through "faith", they genuinely can't distinguish the difference between it and reality.