What are the psychological effects of using synthetic cannabinoids? A systematic review

Akram, Hina; Mokrysz, Claire; Curran, H. Valerie

doi:10.1177/0269881119826592

Cited by 43 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Our analysis reveal that patients, who already had lifetime experience with illicit drugs or suffering from SUD, are more likely to have contact with SC throughout their lifespan. This finding is consistent with previous studies showing an association of SC use with different, often several psychiatric comorbidities, and especially SUDs (Akram et al 2019;Manseau et al 2017). In further concordance, our results indicate that ADHD patients, who had lifetime experience with SC and NC, are significantly more likely suffering from more than one comorbid psychiatric disorders in comparison to NC-only users.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Long-term effects of SC use are widely unknown, but regular SC consumption is supposed to lead to cognitive deficits (Kemp et al 2016;Miliano et al 2016). Especially impairments on executive function have been found in SC users compared with both NC and non-NC users (Akram et al 2019;Cohen et al 2017), and ADHD patients are particularly known to suffer from deficits in executive functioning (Thapar and Cooper 2016). Therefore, this study underscores the need for further trials investigating SC consumption in a larger ADHD sample with special focus on long-term effects of SC use on ADHD symptomatology.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Consumption of Synthetic Cannabinoids in Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: a Pilot Study

Lam

Moeller

Speitling

et al. 2020

Int J Ment Health Addiction

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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with an increased risk for substance abuse and addiction. Synthetic cannabinoids (SC) have gained rising importance as their consumption increased rapidly in the last few years. However, SC consumption in patients with adult ADHD has not been investigated yet. A prospective clinical pilot study was conducted, including 60 adults with ADHD, assessing the prevalence of SC consumption and its associations with psychiatric comorbidities and patient characteristics. A drug consumption survey was utilized to investigate the use of SC and other drugs. Current ADHD symptoms were evaluated via ADHD Self-Rating Scale (ADHD-SR) and retrospective childhood ADHD symptom severity via Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS-k) questionnaire. A positive lifetime prevalence of SC consumption was found in 15.0% of the analyzed sample. SC consumption was significantly associated with current smoking, lifetime use of natural cannabis (NC), cocaine, amphetamines, and benzodiazepines. Lifetime NC consumption was indicated by 65.0% and found to antecede SC use in adult ADHD patients. Logistic regression analysis identified substance use disorder and male sex as predictive for SC consumption. Patients with history of SC use scored significantly higher in both WURS-k and ADHD-SR questionnaire compared with nonusers and suffered significantly more frequently from psychiatric comorbidities. Main side-effects of SC included gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. SC consumption in adults with ADHD is frequent and associated with stronger ADHD symptom severity. Given the underestimated dangerous effects and related comorbidities, SC use should be subject to scrutiny by clinicians treating ADHD patients. More studies are needed to further elucidate the impact of SC use in ADHD. Keywords Synthetic cannabinoids (SC). Spice. New psychoactive substances (NPS). Substance use disorder (SUD). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Adult ADHD In the last few years, the consumption of new psychoactive substances (NPS), also known as "legal highs" or "smart drugs," has increased in Europe and the United States (Duffert 2014; Law et al. 2015; Muller et al. 2016). Synthetic cannabinoids (SC) are the largest group of NPS

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consumption of Synthetic Cannabinoids in Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: a Pilot Study

Lam

Moeller

Speitling

et al. 2020

Int J Ment Health Addiction

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“…It has also been reported that the negative side effects of repetitive use of synthetic cannabinoids are more severe and long-lasting than those of natural cannabinoids [11]. It has been determined that synthetic cannabinoid users experience more anxiety, paranoia and depressive symptoms than natural cannabinoid users [12]. In a study that compared synthetic cannabinoid users and natural cannabinoid users, it was determined that synthetic cannabinoid users reported psychopathological symptoms 3.5 to 5 times more [13].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cannabinoid Use and Depression: Comparison of Natural and Synthetic Cannabinoids

Akdeniz¹,

Sait²

2020

Clin Med Rev Case Rep

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Purpose: Patients who predominantly used marijuana (natural cannabis) and patients who predominantly used synthetic cannabinoids in their history were evaluated as two separate groups in our study which aimed to compare the sociodemographic characteristics and depressive symptoms of these two groups. Method: The sample of our study consisted of those patients who referred to the Polyclinic of Psychiatry at Ardahan State Hospital and were diagnosed with substance addiction. 30 polyclinic patients who defined predominant use of marijuana and 20 polyclinic patients who defined predominant use of synthetic cannabinoids (bonzai, Jamaika, etc.) (SC) were included in the study. The socio-demographic characteristics of the participants were determined, and the depressive symptoms were assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory. Results: Our study determined the socio-demographic characteristics of the marijuana-using group and the synthetic-cannabinoid-using group as similar. The depression score of the group using synthetic cannabinoids was found to be significantly higher. Discussion: In our study, findings pointing to the fact that cannabinoid use increases depressive symptoms and that synthetic cannabinoids have a strong depressive side effect have been obtained. The cross-sectional characteristic of the study and the low number of subjects constitute the limitations.

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“…Cannabinoids, including Δ-9-THC, might represent an acute anti-migraine strategy (10–12,47,49,50). Nevertheless, these studies have not addressed the consequences of long-term use of marijuana or novel synthetic cannabinoid-derivate compounds referred to as “spices” that are 10–30 times more potent than the natural compounds (52–54). Cannabinoid-induced hyperemesis syndrome, a condition that is characterized by repeated and persistent bouts of vomiting attacks has been observed (55).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cannabinoids induce latent sensitization in a preclinical model of medication overuse headache

et al. 2019

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Aim Evaluation of cannabinoid receptor agonists in a preclinical model of medication overuse headache. Methods Female Sprague Dawley rats received graded intraperitoneal doses of WIN55,212-2 or Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-9-THC). Antinociception (tail-flick test), catalepsy and hypomotility (open field test) and impairment of motor function (rotarod test) were assessed to establish effective dosing. Rats were then treated twice daily with equianalgesic doses of WIN55,212-2 or Δ-9-THC, or vehicle, for 7 days and cutaneous tactile sensory thresholds were evaluated during and three weeks following drug discontinuation. Rats then received a one-hour period of bright light stress (BLS) on two consecutive days and tactile sensory thresholds were re-assessed. Results WIN55,212-2 and Δ-9-THC produced antinociception as well as hypomotility, catalepsy and motor impairment. Repeated administration of WIN55,212-2 and Δ-9-THC induced generalized periorbital and hindpaw allodynia that resolved within 3 weeks after discontinuation of drug. Two episodes of BLS produced delayed and long-lasting periorbital and hindpaw allodynia selectively in rats previously treated with WIN55,212-2, and Δ-9-THC. Interpretation Cannabinoid receptor agonists including Δ-9-THC produce a state of latent sensitization characterized by increased sensitivity to stress, a presumed migraine trigger. Overuse of cannabinoids including cannabis may increase the risk of medication overuse headache in vulnerable individuals.

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What are the psychological effects of using synthetic cannabinoids? A systematic review

Cited by 43 publications

References 51 publications

Consumption of Synthetic Cannabinoids in Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: a Pilot Study

Consumption of Synthetic Cannabinoids in Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: a Pilot Study

Cannabinoid Use and Depression: Comparison of Natural and Synthetic Cannabinoids

Cannabinoids induce latent sensitization in a preclinical model of medication overuse headache

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