 Media Credit: Wikipedia The results appeared conflicting; in some cases the synthetic THC (pictured above) seemed to produce anxiety and depression-like effects, while other cases showed anxiolytic (reduced anxiety) and antidepressant effects.
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Depression and anxiety are two of the most common psychological ailments affecting the general population. As a college student, there are many stressors that may lead us to feel depressed and anxious from time to time. Between busy schedules, exams, pulling all-nighters to finish a paper, troubles with your roommate or love life, and the countless other reasons to feel overwhelmed, it is normal to experience symptoms of both disorders. Whether or not these feelings are chronic or severe enough to be classified as a Major Depressive Episode or an anxiety disorder, we all experience them, and search for ways to cope. Some seek professional help and take the modern medicine approach of antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications. Many others, however, use other methods. Among the student population, smoking marijuana is commonly believed to relax, calm, and relieve these unpleasant feelings and emotions. But is this really the case?
An abundance of research suggests that marijuana may actually exasperate depression and anxiety. On the other hand, a lot of new research suggests that marijuana may in fact be used to treat depression and anxiety. As in all debates on the use of medicinal marijuana, there are conflicting views. With the multitude of medical professionals on both sides of the debate, and the overwhelming amount of conflicting research, how can we know what to believe? Perhaps in some cases, such as the relationship between marijuana usage and depression and anxiety, there is an explanation for the confusion.
A research study published in 2005 by Jiang et al. addresses these discrepancies. First, they address the chemical way in which marijuana affects depression and anxiety. Marijuana, or cannabis, contains chemical compounds called cannabinoids. For example, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active component of marijuana, is one of these cannabinoids. This study in particular examined the effects of a synthetic cannabinoid (HU210) on depression and anxiety. The results appeared conflicting; in some cases the HU210 seemed to produce anxiety and depression-like effects, while other cases showed anxiety reducing and antidepressant effects. This was correlated with the amount of HU210 administered, and whether or not it was administered chronically (consistently and on a regular basis), or acutely (inconsistently). High, consistent doses produced anxiolytic (anxiety reducing) and antidepressant-like effects, while low, acute doses produced anxiety and depression. As explained in the article, "the complicated affects of high and low doses of acute and chronic exposure to cannabinoids may explain the seemingly conflicting results observed in clinical studies regarding the effects of cannabinoid on anxiety and depression."
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