Cannabis and psychosis. Is there epidemiological evidence for an association?
G Thornicroft
The British Journal of Psychiatry July 1, 1990 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.157.1.25 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | There is no convincing support for a separate clinical diagnosis of 'cannabis psychosis', but cannabis can produce brief acute organic reactions and psychotic episodes, and heavy use may increase the risk of developing schizophrenia over 15 years. |
Abstract
A review of the evidence shows that there is no convincing support for a separate clinical diagnosis of 'cannabis psychosis'. Cannabis can, however, produce brief acute organic reactions and, in moderate to heavy doses, psychotic episodes in clear consciousness. Ingestion in naive users or increasingly heavy use in habitual users can precipitate a schizophreniform episode. Heavy users may have an increased risk of developing schizophrenia in the subsequent 15 years. Well controlled, longitudinal studies are required to explore these associations further and their possible aetiological significance.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Causal association between cannabis and psychosis: examination of the evidence | 2004 | Review | |
| Cannabis sativa: A comprehensive ethnopharmacological review of a medicinal plant with a long history. General (historical and pharmacological review) | 2018 | Review | |
| Psychiatric effects of cannabis | 2001 | Review | |
| Beyond THC: The New Generation of Cannabinoid Designer Drugs | 2011 | Review | |
| Cannabidiol, a Cannabis sativa constituent, as an antipsychotic drug | 2006 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 36
- Causal association between cannabis and psychosis: examination of the evidence The British Journal of Psychiatry January 30, 2004
- Psychiatric effects of cannabis The British Journal of Psychiatry February 1, 2001
- Cannabis-induced psychosis and subsequent schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: follow-up study of 535 incident cases The British Journal of Psychiatry November 30, 2005
- Cannabis use and psychotic disorders: an update Drug and Alcohol Review November 30, 2004
- Drug Induced Psychosis The British Journal of Psychiatry February 1, 1996
and 31 more in the library
Cites 7
- A Clinical and Metabolic Study of Acute Intoxication with Cannabis Sativa and its Role in the Model Psychoses Journal of Mental Science October 1, 1958
- Cannabis--1988. Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica. Supplementum 1988
- The chronic cerebral effects of cannabis use. I. Methodological issues and neurological findings. International Journal of the Addictions June 1986
- Cannabis-associated psychosis with hypomanic features. The Lancet December 18, 1982
- Cannabis psychoses in south Sweden. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica October 1, 1982
and 2 more in the library