Cannabis use linked with depression?

Poverty_stricken_student

This forms the topic of my dissertation, I am so confused and stressed about how to approach this task.


The criteria consists of the following points:

1. Relevent issue identified and appropriately introduced

2. Concise and clear discussion of the current status of knowledge in the chosen area.

3. Gap in knowledge identified which could form a project/disseration

4. Specific variables to be investigated

5. How will the investigation take place? Details of sampling/collection/analysis of data.

Any help, pointers or advice on how to approach this would be invaluable and greatly appreciated.

Psychobot

Poverty_stricken_student wrote: »

This forms the topic of my dissertation, I am so confused and stressed about how to approach this task.


The criteria consists of the following points:

1. Relevent issue identified and appropriately introduced

2. Concise and clear discussion of the current status of knowledge in the chosen area.

3. Gap in knowledge identified which could form a project/disseration

4. Specific variables to be investigated

5. How will the investigation take place? Details of sampling/collection/analysis of data.

Any help, pointers or advice on how to approach this would be invaluable and greatly appreciated.

I've only studied A' Level Human Biology, BUT perhaps these ideas may be of help?

What cannabis is, active compounds, effects on brain - short term, long term. Why is could cause mood disturbance (the biology behind it).

The changes over the years in quality of cannabis available on the street (strength of active compound).

Question users on why they decided to take up using cannabis.

Typical user- socio-economic background? Motivation for using the drug. Psychological dependency?

History of depression in family? Time frame of use? Use of other drugs alongside cannabis.

Sampling between- different ages groups/ socioeconomic backgrounds/ genders/ regularity of usage (dosage).

Urine samples/ blood tests. Frequency of urine sample taking, time of day sample taken.

You need to use some sort of a scale for depression - i.e. to measure the extent of mood disturbance and try to find a correlation between this and dosage.. time period of usage (you need 2 variables).

dmg24

Hi PSS,

My thoughts (which are possibly influenced my alcohol!):

1. Relevent issue identified and appropriately introduced
:T

2. Concise and clear discussion of the current status of knowledge in the chosen area.
:T

3. Gap in knowledge identified which could form a project/disseration
:T

4. Specific variables to be investigated
This is where I get concerned ...

5. How will the investigation take place? Details of sampling/collection/analysis of data.
The subject that you are covering is huge, and only capable of investigation in a long term, medical environment.

I would say that you could suggest possible methods of investigation, but I think actual investigation of any worth is far beyond a dissertation.

Hope that helps ... x

Bot and I posted at the same time, but his response demonstrates to me that an actual investigation in this area is far beyond undergraduate level. I think getting up to that stage, but not actually carrying out the investigations, would be more than adequate.

dmg24

Hi again, thanks for your help. Just a quick question u mentioned something about a survey i was thinking of doing a survey to gain a public opinion of the reclassification of cannabis. Do u think i should ask more questions or just the one? Please get back to me at ur earliest convenience

Apologies, I never answered this ... I went on holiday! x

It would be a good idea to ask more than one question. For instance:

Do you have personal experience of, or know someone who has experience of, depression? (Remember to state that all responses are confidential)

Do you believe that the use of cannabis contributes to criminal acts?

Do you believe that the use of cannabis should be:
* Decriminalised
* Returned to a Class A classification?

They may not be the most complex questions in the world, but your assessor will be looking at how you design the questionnaire for ease of use, and then how you interpret your data.

My biggest problem with my dissertation, was deciding what to cover and what to leave out ... be careful not to do too much! x

DrFluffy

What degree subject are you studying for, and who will be marking it - it may have an effect on how you tackle it....

For example - if you're doing something biomedical which will be marked by a neuroscientist, you probably shouldn't be looking at decriminalisation or legal issues, but more at the brain pathways (limbic system etc), mechanisms of addiction, overlaps between the known mechanisms/pathways of mood and addiction etc. If you're being marked by a law/ethics person, you might want to look at issues regarding mental health act, autonomy, laws principles being based on social norms, etc.

If it's a legal dissertation, then you'll want to look at something else entirely...

tomstickland

I am so confused and stressed about how to approach this task.

Are you feeling depressed by it?

You should start by reading current literature to get some idea of the subject area.

1. Relevent issue identified and appropriately introduced
Think of an issue and introduce it.

2. Concise and clear discussion of the current status of knowledge in the chosen area.
Review current status of knowledge, gained from literature search.

3. Gap in knowledge identified which could form a project/disseration
Find any interesting unanswered questions.

4. Specific variables to be investigated
Analysise the question and look for relevant variables.

5. How will the investigation take place? Details of sampling/collection/analysis of data.
Think of a suitable trial for this.

newleaf

You will find more literature linking cannabis use to psychosis than to depression, I'm pretty sure.

Poverty_stricken_student

Thankyou for all the feedback! My mind is overwhelmingly blank!!!!! Which is cause for concern as i have until tonight to do this mock dissertation (its more of a literature review) the wieghting is 20% proposal and 80% literature rewiew. My mental functions seem to be declining think i may be close to a bout of depression. Someone please help. Im the emotional type and allow things to get the better of me. Feel weak and demotivated. Can anyone help salvage my sanity??????

Psychobot

Have you organized your source materials? Have you been able to write a plan of what it is that you need to cover?

These are the key aspects to consider in order to forge ahead without gathering unnecessary stress.

Give yourself specific short chunks of time to get each section done. It will help to focus you.

Remember: You are certainly not alone, many students have been through what you are going through, and I'm sure each at some point or another the dreaded case of anxiety linked project stress has surfaced! You don't know what you can pull out of a hat until you give it your best shot. Trust yourself.

Do you have a friend on your course with whom you can discuss your thoughts/ feelings with?

If not, try to imagine what advice you would give yourself if you were 'your' friend. Sometimes dissociating from the issue at hand can provide us with a fresh perspective.

Remember to eat well (complex carbs and proteins - not junk!) and away from your study environment (who can relax with bits of paper flying around everywhere.. if that is the case, try to order your notes and throw away anything you don't need to be in your field of vision that is a constant reminder of what you don't understand/ fear. Attempt to know what it is you don't know!)

Relax by getting up from your desk and going for a walk.

Just whatever you do....

Don't go near the Cannabis. You may be able to prove faster than you think, that there's a link between it and depression.

Poverty_stricken_student

I appreciate your reassuring words.......right now im trying go through journals and try to find some unanswered questions about cannabis use and depression the answer is simply evading my eye and i just cant put my finger on it. The level of stress i'm currently experiencing is interferring with it. I find the topic an intresting one but just cant figure out what that small gap in knowledge could be?

Do u have any curiosities about the topic i have chosen? any ideas?

I would never resort to recreational drugs, in any situaton! Probably just eat the entire contents of my fridge thats about it!

Psychobot

What are the unanswered questions that you are looking to answer?