Cannabis (marijuana) is commonly used among those diagnosed with bipolar disorder but there has been concern regarding whether or not it increases or decreases mood abnormalities in these individuals.
This study set out to determine the effect of marijuana on mood in bipolar patients, as well as if there were any negative effects on their cognitive function. Participants consisted of 12 bipolar patients that smoked marijuana, 18 bipolar patients who do not smoke, 23 marijuana smokers without any diagnosis, and 21 controls without diagnosis who do not smoke marijuana.
Researchers found that there was no difference in cognition of bipolar patients who did or didn’t use marijuana. However, the bipolar patients who used marijuana reported a substantial decrease in mood symptoms, meaning they had less dramatic mood changes than non-users.
