Abstract
The prevalence of cannabis use disorders (CUD) in bipolar disorder (BD) is high. There are three main hypotheses regarding the relationship between these disorders: cannabis use elicits BD, patients with BD self-medicate with cannabis, or that there are common underlying risk factors. Support for the notion that cannabis may trigger BD in vulnerable individuals is growing. CUD appears to contribute to a more severe course in BD, that is, increased symptoms, episode frequency and suicidal behavior, and reduced functioning; however, further research is needed to clarify the strength and specificity of the effect. Surprisingly, cannabis use has been associated with better neurocognitive function in BD, a finding that should be considered preliminary. Research is emerging on effects of cannabinoids on mood regulation brain processes, both in healthy individuals and BD subjects, shedding light on possible mechanisms involved in the relationship.
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