Cannabis Induced Psychosis Treatment : An Original Approach

Background: Cannabis use disorders and induced disorders are common in the world. Objective: To discuss an emergency psychotic patient having diagnosis of cannabis induced psychosis with severe use disorder who responded successfully to Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT). Results: The patient improved after ECT administration. Discussion: This study clarified that ECT could be life saving in this serious situation. Conclusion: ECT is a good choice in the treatment of cannabis induced psychosis and cannabis withdrawal symptoms. *Corresponding author: Ahmadi, J. Professor of Addiction Psychiatry, Founding Director, Substance Abuse Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran, E-mail: Jamshid_Ahmadi@yahoo.com Received Date: March 19, 2016 Accepted Date: June 3, 2016 Published Date: June 7, 2016

In Iran, in the past time cannabis and methamphetamine were illegally smuggled in from other countries, but at present it they are prepared illegally in 'underground'. Cannabis has not only been illegally smuggled in from the east and the west countries, but also has been cultivated in 'underground'. Hashish potency is more than marijuana and is sometimes joined with psychosis. A single episode of abuse may cause hallucinations and paranoid persecutory delusions [10] .

Case Presentation
MH was a 21 years old single, unemployed with 1 st grade of high school education. He lived with his parents in Kazeroon city of Fars province in south of Iran. MH started drinking alcohol at age of 13 and smoking tobacco at age of 14. Because of heavy alcohol drinking he gradually developed aggressive behaviors, irritability, and impulsivity. He had several fighting with others that resulted to his imprisonment at age of 18. He was in prison for 3 years and in this period he began smoking opium, cannabis and methamphetamine. After releasing from prison he started abusing alcohol, benzodiazepines, heroin, cannabis and methamphetamine. MH developed depressed mood, unhedonia, suicidal acts, paranoid delusion, impulsive behaviors and homicidal acts. Since one month prior to admission he increased smoking of heroin and hashish and then his symptoms were exaggerated.
He had not history of psychiatric disorders in his family. He was admitted in the dual diagnosis ward of Ebnesina hospital in the city of Shiraz in April, 2016. During comprehensive psychiatric interview and detailed examination, he had opioid and cannabis withdrawal symptoms, depressed mood, severe irritability, suicidal and homicidal acts, paranoid delusion and aggressive behavior. azepine. According to comprehensive medical, psychiatric, and substance use history and DSM-5 criteria he was diagnosed as cannabis induced psychotic disorder At the time of admission he was complaining of severe irritability, agitation, insomnia and opioid withdrawals. We administered olanzapine 30 mg and chlorpromazine 500 mg per day for the treatment of insomnia, and severe agitation. Patient received ibuprofen 1200 mg, clonidine 0.3 mg and baclofen 75 mg per day for the management of opioid withdrawals.
In the 2 nd day of admission, due to the emergency condition of the patient and lack of response to the prescribed medication, we began double bilateral electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) i.e. 2 sessions of ECT in the same anesthesia phase. In the day of admission his cannabis withdrawal craving score and heroin withdrawal pain score were high.
With reference to the interview, close monitoring, and precise measurement (3 times a day) for cannabis and heroin withdrawal symptoms, MH experienced and reported a fast declining level of craving and pain after receiving the 3rdsession of double ECT. After one month of hospital admission and receiving 9 sessions of double ECT (overall 18 sessions of ECT), patient was discharged without any psychiatric or withdrawal symptoms.

Discussion
I should mention that in Iran the patients should be admitted to a facility as per law of the country [17] .
Our work indicates that ECT may be useful and life saving in treating cannabis induced psychotic disorder and cannabis withdrawal symptoms. ECT use in these psychiatric disorders has not been reported in the past. Therefore a systematic prospective trial of ECT in cannabis psychosis and craving should be published, and this study is a substantial addition to the literature.

Conclusion
ECT could be a suitable option in the management of cannabis induced psychotic disorders. This study illuminates that ECT is very helpful and even life saving in the therapy of cannabis psychosis and withdrawal symptoms as well. Although our work clarifies that ECT is functional and practical in the management of these psychiatric disorders, however, a systematic clinical trial of ECT in these conditions should be carried out.