Amotivational syndrome

Duncan DF (1987). Lifetime prevalence of amotivational syndrome , among users and nonusers of hashish. Psychology of Addictive Behaviours, 1, 114-119. 

Chronic use has been associated with an "amotivational syndrome" characterized by loss of interest in social activities, school, work, or other goal-directed activities. Cannabis use is cited as the cause of this phenomenon, but there is no evidence to support any causal relationship. There is evidence, however, that the symptoms of the "amotivational syndrome" are secondary to depression (Musty and Kraback 1995). In contrast to ethanol, there is no evidence to support that cannabis causes an increase in violent behavior (Murray 1986). However, cannabis use may be contraindicated in those with preexisting psychiatric disturbances such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. 

The amotivational syndrome discussed earlier has also been ascribed to chronic cannabis use, but there is no evidence for a causal relationship. Rather, it may be a manifestation of depression. 

Apathy and frontal lobe-like syndromes. A reversible, dose-related frontal lobe-like syndrome characterized by apathy, indifference, loss of initiative, and/or disinhibition has been reported in adults on SSRI therapy (Hoehn-Saric et al.l990, 1991). Recently, five cases of amotivational syndrome in youths, 10 to 17 years of age, were reported (Garland Baerg, 2001). Symptoms had a delayed onset, were dose related, and were reversible. The authors caution that such presentation may go underrecognized or may be mistakenly attributed to residual depression or to avoidance rather than to a medication side effect. 

Garland, E.J. and Baerg, E.A. (2001) Amotivational syndrome associated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in children and adolescents. / Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 11 181-186. 

The psychological and physical adverse effects of cannabis have been the subject of many studies, with psychological ones in particular much debated (Hall Solowij 2006). The suspicion of an amotivational syndrome has not exactly gone away, but it seems such an... 

Another controversial issue has been the amotivational syndrome supposedly caused by heavy, chronic marijuana use. This syndrome has been characterized by feelings of lethargy and apathy and an absence of goal-directed behavior.226,227 However, studies conducted in countries where segments of the population use marijuana heavily228-230 and laboratory-based studies in the U.S.231,232 have not found empirical support for an amotivational syndrome. 

Comitas, L., Cannabis and work in Jamaica a refutation of the amotivational syndrome, Ann. N.Y. 

Page, J.B., The amotivational syndrome hypothesis and the Costa Rica study relationship between methods and results, 3. Psychoactive Drugs, 15, 261, 1983. 

Health officials describe burn-out (also called amotivational syndrome), a state long associated with prolonged abuse of PCP, that results from recreational exposure to fry. These symptoms include memory dysfunction, lethargy, lack of interest or motivation, and decreased spontaneous speech and blank staring. 

One of the worst aspects of heavy marijuana use may be what researchers call the amotivational syndrome that robs people of their ambition, drive, and energy. A 2000 study showed that teenagers who use marijuana drop out of high school at more than twice the rate of nonusers those who also abuse other drugs have even higher dropout rates. 

Many study findings have hypothesized that marijuana causes psychological problems such as amotivational syndrome (lack of motivation), which links poor school performance to teen marijuana use. The assertion is that marijuana makes... 

Chronic cannabis users frequently exhibit the amotivational syndrome", characterized by apathy, impaired judgement, memory defects and loss of interest in normal social pursuits. Whether chronic cannabis abuse leads to more permanent changes in brain function is uncertain, but it is known that chronic administration to animals results in permanent damage to the hippocampus. Regular use of cannabis by adolescents frequently predisposes them to other types of drug abuse later. This may reflect the social pressures placed upon them rather than the pharmacological consequences of abusing cannabis. 

In that article I covered a number of salient theories—steppingstone to heroin, amotivational syndrome, brain damage, chromosome damage (i.e., birth defects), immune responses, psychosis, incitement to crime, general health hazard and sex impairment. None of this research proved that use of marijuana caused problems. 

Reinblatt and Riddle (2006) concluded, SSRI-induced amotivational syndrome is a more important and frequent clinical issue than suggested by the paucity of published reports. It may go undetected in its milder forms owing to delayed onset and variable severity of presentation. ... 

An even better example of the false linking of a problem with a drug is the amotivational syndrome. As we have said, it makes much more sense to view heavy marijuana smoking as an expression of amotivation rather than the cause of it Many amotivated people smoke a lot of marijuana, but so do many well-motivated people. Amotivated people would probably behave in other unproductive ways if marijuana were to disappear. The tendency to see disliked drugs as causes of disapproved behavior is understandable, but it is not valid scientifically and does not help solve the real problems associated with drugs. 

Three hypothesized social and environmental consequences of cannabis use have received attention the role of marijuana in enhancing interpersonal skills, the effect of cannabis on aggression and violence, and the role of marijuana use in what has been called the amotivational syndrome. 

Marijuana has not been shown to enhance social skills or to induce aggression or violence. The data on cannabis causing an amotivational syndrome are mixed. Both preexisting personality characteristics and drug effects probably account for what has been labeled the amotivational syndrome. 

Amotivational syndrome Loss of effectiveness and reduced capacity to accomplish conventional goals as a result of chronic marijuana use (Chapter 11). 

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