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I'm speaking as a medical student. And I can't speak for what it's like in the US - only Sweden. Here it's not uncommon for schizofrenic patients to self medica
by Ovah 5y ago
I'm speaking as a medical student. And I can't speak for what it's like in the US - only Sweden. Here it's not uncommon for schizofrenic patients to self medicate with marijuana. I guess it increases their quality of life until they have just a little too much and end up having a psychosis. That said, at least among Swedish psychiatrists, it's well know that marijuana can trigger schizophrenia in people that are ~16 years old.
- tomrod 5y agoBy what pathway is the schizophrenia triggered? And is the trigger causal or catalytic?
- Ovah 5y agoI guess that's the thing with psychiatry: the whole field is pretty far away from basic science, mechanisms etc. My (second hand) understanding is it actually triggers schizofrenia in 16 y.o. people who would not otherwise have gotten it. Not sure if it's clinical experience or if there is data to back it up. The 16 yo-scenario is one of the few medical arguments I've heard for why there should be an age limit on marijuana.