Anorexia Nervosa and Cannabis Abuse: A Case Report

Abstract

It is known that there is a high rate of comorbidity of alcohol-substance abuse and eating disorders. The compounds of cannabis,such as tetrahydrocannabinol, activate endogenous cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) in the brain. Stimulating the CB1 receptor is known to cause increased appetite and an antiemetic effect and because of these effects cannabinoids are used clinically. In this case report, a young girl diagnosed anorexia nervosa and using cannabis will be presented. The patient, a 17 year-old, had complaints of loss weight and had used cannabis for three years. It was found that, although cannabis caused increased appetite, she induced weight loss by self-induction of vomiting and excessive exercise. According to a scan of the literature in Turkey, such a case of using cannabis comorbid with anorexia nervosa has not previously been reported. In this respect, discussion of the case in detail is important.