Chunk #19 — Do cannabinoids cause short-lived positive psychotic symptoms, negative symptoms and cognitive deficits in the general population? — Negative symptoms
Δ9-THC also produced negative symptoms of schizophrenia which included blunted affect, reduced rapport, lack of spontaneity, psychomotor retardation, and emotional withdrawal. Of note, these schizophrenia-like negative symptoms may have been confounded by the known cataleptic and sedating effects of Δ9-THC and further, acute pharmacological studies may have limitations in their capacity to “model” negative symptoms. Nevertheless, a persistent “amotivational syndrome” has been described in chronic heavy cannabis users by some [81, 82, 118, 155, 216] but not others [97, 190]. This so-called “amotivational syndrome” is characterized by apathy, amotivation, social withdrawal, narrowing of interests, lethargy, impaired memory, impaired concentration, disturbed judgment, and impaired occupational achievement. The syndrome has resembled the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. However, other drug use, poverty, low socio-economic status, or preexisting psychiatric disorders existing data confound the interpretation of the existing literature.
