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Cannabis-induced depersonalization disorder in adolescence.

Franziska Hürlimann, Stephan Kupferschmid, Andor E Simon

Neuropsychobiology 2012 DOI: 10.1159/000334605 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Case series Case report Peer reviewed
Sample size 6
Population Adolescents who developed persistent depersonalization disorder after consuming cannabis
Topics Cannabis
Key findings Six adolescents developed persistent depersonalization disorder after cannabis use, with two cases being severely disabling.

Abstract

We present a case series of 6 patients who developed persistent depersonalization disorder in adolescence after consuming cannabis. In 2 of these cases, the illness course was severely disabling. Within the growing body of literature that investigates the effects of cannabis use on mental health, the association between cannabis and depersonalization disorder is widely neglected. We review the clinical characteristics of this disorder and summarize the neurobiological evidence relating it to cannabis use. This case series extends awareness about the potentially detrimental effect of cannabis use in young individuals beyond its well-documented relationship with psychosis and other psychological sequelae.