Cannabis-Associated Mania in Young Adult Males: A Case Series
Nikhar Satyapal, Parisha Kelkar, Abhimanyu Sinha, Suprakash Chaudhury, A. Javadekar
Medical Journal of Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth October 1, 2026 DOI: 10.4103/mjdrdypu.mjdrdypu_860_25 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case series Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 3 |
| Population | Young adult males presenting with first-episode mania following recent escalation of cannabis consumption |
| Interventions | Antipsychotics Mood stabilizers Benzodiazepines Motivational enhancement therapy |
| Duration | Symptomatic improvement within 1–2 weeks |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | Three young men without prior psychiatric illness developed first-episode mania after increasing cannabis use, with symptoms including grandiosity, decreased need for sleep, talkativeness, aggression, and risk-taking. Symptoms improved within 1–2 weeks on antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and benzodiazepines plus motivational enhancement therapy. The authors argue the temporal association and absence of prior mood episodes support a substance-induced cause. |
Abstract
A BSTRACT Cannabis is the most widely used illicit psychoactive substance worldwide. While cannabis-related psychosis is well documented, cannabis-associated mania is a relatively under-recognized clinical entity that poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. We describe three young adult males who presented with first-episode mania following a recent escalation of cannabis consumption. All patients exhibited classic manic symptoms, including elevated or irritable mood, grandiosity, decreased need for sleep, increased talkativeness, aggression, and risk-taking behaviour. None had a prior psychiatric illness or family history of bipolar disorder. Mental status examinations revealed grandiose ideation, impaired insight, and ongoing craving for cannabis. Treatment included antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and benzodiazepines along with motivational enhancement therapy, resulting in symptomatic improvement within 1–2 weeks. The temporal association between cannabis escalation and manic symptoms, alongside the absence of prior mood episodes, supports a substance-induced aetiology. These cases underscore the importance of thorough substance-use assessment in patients presenting with first-episode mania, especially young adults. Clinicians should remain vigilant for cannabis-related mood disturbances in psychiatric settings.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder after psilocybin consumption: a case study 18-year-old man with HPPD after mixed psilocybin and cannabis intoxication | 2005 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Cannabis‐induced Koro in Americans American men aged 22-26 with years of cannabis experience who reported negative... | 2001 | Case series | n = 3 |
| “Hallucinations” Following Acute Cannabis Dosing: A Case Report and Comparison to Other Hallucinogenic Drugs Healthy 30-year-old male | 2018 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder: A literature review and three case reports Patients with hallucinogen persisting perception disorder | 2018 | Case series | n = 3 |
| Cannabis Psychosis in Young Psychiatric Inpatients Consecutive psychiatric hospital admissions of patients aged 35 and under | 1986 | Case study | n = 25 |