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Cannabis-associated psychosis with hypomanic features.

D Rottanburg, A H Robins, O Ben-Arie, A Teggin, R Elk

The Lancet December 18, 1982 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(82)91270-3 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Observational cohort Peer reviewed
Sample size 40
Population Psychotic men admitted to a psychiatric hospital
Duration 7-day follow-up
Topics Cannabis
Key findings High cannabis intake may be related to a rapidly resolving psychosis manifesting with marked hypomanic features.

Abstract

The mental state of 20 psychotic men with high urinary cannabinoid levels on admission to a psychiatric hospital was compared with that of 20 matched cannabis-free controls. All patients underwent toxicological analysis to exclude the presence of alcohol and other exogenous agents. Cannabis levels were measured by a semiquantitative enzyme immunological technique and mental state was assessed by the use of the Present State Examination (PSE), once shortly after admission and again 7 days later. The cannabis group showed significantly more hypomania and agitation and significantly less affective flattening, auditory hallucinations, incoherence of speech, and hysteria than did the controls. Clouding of consciousness was absent in most cannabis patients. After 1 week the cannabis group showed marked improvement (particularly in the psychotic syndromes), whereas the controls remained virtually unchanged. There was no significant difference in amount of medication received between the two groups. Our data suggest that a high intake of cannabis may be related to a rapidly resolving psychosis manifesting with marked hypomanic features, though often presenting as a schizophrenia-like illness.

Comparable studies

Other observational and cohort studies on cannabis, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
High-potency cannabis and the risk of psychosis People with first episode of psychosis and healthy controls from the local population 2009 Case-control study n = 454
Ayahuasca-Assisted Therapy for Addiction: Results from a Preliminary Observational Study in Canada Rural aboriginal population 2013 Observational study
Impaired cognitive performance in drug free users of recreational ecstasy (MDMA) Otherwise healthy young people 2000 Observational
Continued cannabis use and risk of incidence and persistence of psychotic symptoms: 10 year follow-up cohort study Individuals from the general population in Germany aged 14-24 at baseline 2011 Observational cohort n = 1,923
Cannabis-induced psychosis and subsequent schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: follow-up study of 535 incident cases Patients treated for cannabis-induced psychotic symptoms in Denmark between 1994 and... 2005 Observational cohort n = 535

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