A case report documented marijuana-induced manic symptoms in an adolescent with no prior psychiatric history, the first such report in this age group.
Read this if you are a parent or young person wanting to understand rare psychiatric reactions to marijuana.
First reported adolescent case of marijuana-induced mania
What the researchers found
An adolescent with no known prior psychiatric history developed manic symptoms following marijuana use. Previous case reports of marijuana-induced mania had been documented only in adult patients.
The case was notable because the adolescent had no identifiable psychiatric vulnerability before the marijuana exposure. The report was contextualized against nationwide usage data showing 11.8% of 8th graders, 26.7% of 10th graders, and 32.8% of 12th graders had used marijuana at least once in the prior year.
Why it matters
The case extended the recognized age range for marijuana-induced mania to adolescents and suggested that even individuals without psychiatric vulnerabilities could develop acute manic symptoms.
The numbers in context
First documented adolescent case. Usage rates in 2009: 11.8% of 8th graders, 26.7% of 10th graders, 32.8% of 12th graders.
How the study worked
Case report with retrospective review of published literature on marijuana-induced mania. No psychiatric history identified in the patient prior to the marijuana-associated manic episode.
What this study cannot tell us
Single case report. Cannot establish causation or estimate how commonly marijuana triggers mania. Undetected pre-existing vulnerability is possible despite no identified psychiatric history.
How to read the evidence
Single case report documenting a novel presentation but unable to establish prevalence or causation.
When this study was published
Published in 2011. Additional cases of cannabis-associated mania in adolescents have been reported since.
The bigger picture
As cannabis use among adolescents remained prevalent, recognizing the potential for acute psychiatric emergencies including mania was important for emergency and pediatric clinicians.
Questions still open
- How often does marijuana trigger manic episodes in adolescents without known vulnerability? What biological mechanisms might explain marijuana-induced mania?
Common questions
Can marijuana cause mania?
What is mania?
Read the original research
Marijuana-induced mania in a healthy adolescent: a case report.
General hospital psychiatry, 33(6), 640.e3-4
Citation
Iskandar, Joseph W; Griffeth, Benjamin; Sharma, Taral. (2011). Marijuana-induced mania in a healthy adolescent: a case report.. General hospital psychiatry, 33(6), 640.e3-4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2011.04.007
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