If teens who are at risk for developing psychosis can be identified and treated before the onset of a full-blown illness, they have a chance to bypass years of disability. Understanding how genetic defects can lead to the symptoms of psychotic disorders may someday allow doctors to give at-risk teens an even better chance at ongoing health than they have today.

This paper is Gaye Carlson's contribution to CABF's series, Translation of the Scientific Evolution of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder.  The series presents the leading researchers' contribution to the field.  It describes the programmatic approach and direction of the labs, the seminal questions which drive their research, a listing of their most important findings and a summary of how their work impacts the field.  CABF is very grateful to Dr. Carlson for sharing her insights with our readers.

The 1936 propaganda film, “Reefer Madness”, urged parents to warn their kids that smoking marijuana caused reckless driving, sexual assault, violent behavior, permanent psychosis, and suicide. Dire outcomes and lurid scenes are dramatized to the hilt. The movie flopped, and was forgotten until its re-discovery by gleeful advocates of marijuana legalization in the 1970s. Its success as a camp hit on college campuses helped launch New Line Cinema and led to a musical on Broadway, with a film version due later this year.

Some might consider all this harmless fun but a series of compelling studies published in recent years shows that cannabis is an addictive substance. Some individuals do suffer harm from smoking pot— particularly youth who already have mild psychotic symptoms or have relatives with mood disorders with psychosis or schizophrenia (placing them at high risk genetically for these conditions). These findings are coming to light just as liberalization of marijuana laws is gaining ground, a change sure to ease access to marijuana. This may send the signal that pot is considered relatively benign by the authorities and further tempt risk-loving and impulsive adolescents.  It appears from these studies that marijuana can do serious harm to our children with bipolar disorder and their well siblings, and is far more likely to harm them than their peers.