Psychological effects impairment

Monitor the patient for adverse CNS and psychological effects, such as abnormal dreams, dizziness, impaired concentration, insomnia, severe acute depression (including suicidal ideation or attempts), and somnolence. Be aware that insomnia may begin during the first or second day of therapy and generally resolves in 2-4 wk... 

The psychological effects of cannabis vary with personal and social factors. However, some guidance to the essential effects of the drug can be derived from investigations with THC and marijuana in non-user volunteers. Blood concentrations of THC over 75 pg/ml under these conditions are associated with euphoria, and somewhat higher concentrations with dissociation of events and memory and impairment of psychomotor tasks lasting over 24 hours (61). 

Chronic heavy use of alcohol may have numerous physiological and psychological effects. All the effects involve increased dysfunction, and some may be fatal. Some chronic alcohol effects are caused directly by alcohol s toxicity to the body, such as damage to the liver. Other effects are indirectly related to long-term abusive drinking. For example, Wernicke s disease, which involves impaired cognitive functioning, is caused by nutritional deficiencies that tend to occur in people who are dependent on alcohol (Brands et al., 1998). 

Psychological effects of cannabis include decreased psychomotor activity, happy feelings and relaxation, impaired short-term memory, and altered time perception. 

Acute physical and psychological effects. Marijuana intoxication has an adverse effect on attention span, short-term memory, and psychomotor performance. Anxiety and panic attacks can occur, primarily in new users who are not familiar with marijuanas eflFects. At very high doses, some people experience delusions and hallucinations. There are no cases of fatal marijuana poisoning and humans are very unfikely to be able to ingest a fatal dose. The eflFect of marijuana intoxication impairs motor and cognitive abilities necessary to safely drive a car or operate machinery. The extent to which marijuana is involved in auto accidents is unclear. Many motorists intoxicated with marijuana drive more slowly and carefully and take fewer risks. However, there is an increased risk of accidents after using marijuana, but marijuana alone does not appear to contribute a great deal to accidents. Marijuana in combination with alcohol does. 

Subjects should not be discharged from a cannabis-administration research study until they have been evaluated for any unresolved or residual adverse effects from study participation. Adverse physical and psychological effects from acute cannabis administration, such as tachycardia, orthostatic hypotension, impaired motor coordination, and drowsiness, usually resolve completely within hours. Thus, subjects can usually be safely discharged a few hours to a... 

A recent NTP report examined the literature of neurotoxic outcomes associated with a BLL under 10 pg/dL. NTP concluded that the evidence that BLLs under 10 pg/dL were associated with the diagnosis of essential tremor was sufficient but that the evidence that BLLs under 5 pg/dL were associated was limited. NTP also found hmited evidence of an association between BLLs under 10 pg/dL and impaired cognitive function in older adults, psychologic effects, ALS, and reduced sensory function and auditory functiom There were no studies of an association between BLLs of 10 pg/dL or lower and Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, or sensory function or visiral function. 

Organic solvents have acute narcotic effects. Aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons seem to be especially effective. As stated, the combined effect of several organic solvents is usually considered to be additive. However, there is some evidence that the combined effect may in fact be synergistic. The symptoms caused by organic solvents, often called prenarcotic symptoms, resemble those caused by the use of alcohol. A decrease in reaction time and impairment in various psychological performances can be observed. Acute neurotoxicity can also be detected as abnormalities in the electroencephalogram (EEG i, which records the electrical activity of the brain. " ... 

Given the extent of the use of cannabis in the general population and the medical and psychological consequences of its use, particularly the clinically significant psychosocial impairment, there is a great public health need to develop safe and effective therapeutic interventions. The need to develop treatments targeting adolescents and young adults is particularly relevant in view of their disproportionate use patterns. ... 

A number of effects have been associated with chronic exposure to jet fuel in factory workers (Knave et al. 1978). These effects included increases in the occurrence of neurasthenia (anxiety and/or mental depression, fatigue, depressed mood, lack of initiative, dizziness, palpitations, thoracic oppression, sleep disturbances) and eye irritation. Psychological tests found that attention and sensorimotor speed were impaired in exposed workers, but there were no effects on memory functions or manual dexterity. EEG tests suggested that there may have been instability in the thalamocortical system in the exposed group. However, the type of jet fuels were not noted nor was there a control for exposure to other compounds. Inhalation exposure is likely since jet fuel vapor was detected by the study authors however, dermal and oral (i.e., eating with contaminated hands) exposures may also be possible. 

CNS and psychological side effects, such as delusions, depression, dizziness, and impaired concentration, occur in more than half of patients taking this drug notify the physician if these symptoms continue or become problematic... 

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