Posted by JahL on November 14, 2001, at 13:10:20
In reply to THC in psychiatry, posted by kitty-layne on November 13, 2001, at 21:43:01
> IMO the limited efficacy of weed/THC, the side-effects (which are usually stronger than the therapeutic effects) and the abuse potential mean that it probably isn't effective enough to be used in psychiatry. I'm interested to see what other people think.I tend to agree & I speak as a heavy-duty smoker. Fact is it's the only thing that lets me deal with the persistent agitation I suffer from. More importantly I can't sleep w/o it. However it's far from perfect and I'm not just talking about side-effects (lung, throat & mouth cancer being some of the biggest dangers given the preferred method of ingestion).
Basically it doesn't do the job; it just *helps* with various symptoms. Perhaps this is where its role in psychiatry lays (amelioration of side-effects). I certainly don't think it's a 'cure' (if we can equate this with full remission) for depressive or anxiety disorders. Tho' the THC derivatives currently being studied may offer something different?
The evidence of efficacy for nerve related pain is better.
Having said this I have great affection for Mary; there is no doubting she improves my QOL to some extent and beggars can't be choosers. However I ultimately see her as a convenient (& mildly pleasurable) stop-gap until the medical community catches up with us & comes up with something better than we currently have. Until then...
J.
poster:JahL
thread:84006
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011113/msgs/84252.html