Your Health News at BAMI.us

Marijuana withdrawal takes its toll

From a recent study of 469 self-reported marijuana users, aged 18 to 64, researchers identified specific symptoms associated with marijuana withdrawal. Participants fairly consistently reported both physical and psychological symptoms that occurred during prolonged intervals between use which then prompted them to begin using marijuana again. The symptoms resolved once they resumed use. Psychological symptoms were irritability, anxiety, sadness, insomnia, increased or decreased appetite, increased or decreased libido, and boredom. Physical symptoms were primarily gastrointestinal, such as stomach upset and nausea. About one-third of the participants also reported improved memory, and more than 90% reported marijuana cravings.

The most common dependence-associated behaviors among those who resumed marijuana use because of withdrawal symptoms included using more than intended, inability to cut down use, spending a lot of time using, and giving up other activities in order to use.

via American Psychiatric Association, abstract #30, MedPageToday

Deep brain stimulation may be useful in relieving major depression

In a small Canadian study of depressed patients who failed traditional methods of treatment, deep brain stimulation provided significant relief to 56% of the patients.

In this study, volunteers had to have documented resistance to at least four types of treatment, including cognitive behavioral therapy. They also had to be in a depressive episode at least two years long and have a score on the Hamilton scale of 20 or higher. Improvement in symptoms of depression was defined as at least a 40% improvement on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.

Although these findings are extremely informative and promising, deep brain stimulation is still purely an investigational technique for depression and more research in this area needs to be done.

American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting
via MedPageToday