Cannabis use and the risk of developing a psychotic disorder.
World Psychiatry 2008 DOI: 10.1002/j.2051-5545.2008.tb00158.x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Adolescents and young adults |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Keywords | Cannabis, psychosis Adolescents Dopamine Educational interventions Schizophrenia |
| Key findings | Regular cannabis use predicts an increased risk of schizophrenia and psychotic symptoms, persisting after controlling for confounders, and is not explained by self-medication. |
Abstract
WE BRIEFLY REVIEW THE EVIDENCE THAT CANNABIS USE IN ADOLESCENCE AND YOUNG ADULTHOOD IS A CONTRIBUTORY CAUSE OF SCHIZOPHRENIFORM PSYCHOSES, BY SUMMARISING LONGITUDINAL STUDIES THAT: a) have examined relationships between cannabis use and the risk of psychosis or psychotic symptoms; and b) have controlled for potential confounders, such as other forms of drug use and personal characteristics that predict an increased risk of psychosis. There is now reasonable evidence from longitudinal studies that regular cannabis use predicts an increased risk of schizophrenia and of reporting psychotic symptoms. These relationships have persisted after controlling for confounding variables such as personal characteristics and other drug use. The relationships did not seem to be explained by cannabis being used to self-medicate symptoms of psychosis. A contributory causal relationship is biologically plausible because psychotic disorders involve disturbances in the dopamine neurotransmitter system with which the cannabinoid system interacts, as has been shown by animal studies and a human provocation study. We briefly explore the clinical and public health implications of the most plausible hypothesis, that cannabis use precipitates schizophrenia in persons who are vulnerable because of a personal or family history of schizophrenia.
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 21
- Risk-thresholds for the association between frequency of cannabis use and the development of psychosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis Psychological Medicine March 24, 2022
- The many faces of psilocybin-related psychosis: A case series Psychiatry Research Case Reports December 7, 2024
- Associations Between Cannabis, Psychosis, and Schizophrenia in Adolescents Academic Leadership Journal in Student Research 2022
- Associações entre o uso de cannabis e esquizofrenia: uma revisão da literatura Revista de Ciências Médicas e Biológicas May 24, 2016
- Which Came First? Utility of Preclinical Models in Cracking the Chicken-or-Egg Relationship between Cannabis Use and Schizophrenia Current Addiction Reports February 27, 2026
and 16 more in the library
Cites 14
- Cannabis and schizophrenia: model projections of the impact of the rise in cannabis use on historical and future trends in schizophrenia in England and Wales Addiction February 10, 2007
- New Perspectives in the Studies on Endocannabinoid and Cannabis: Cannabinoid Receptors and Schizophrenia Journal of Pharmacological Sciences 2004
- Cannabinoid ‘model’ psychosis, dopamine–cannabinoid interactions and implications for schizophrenia Cambridge University Press eBooks May 27, 2004
- Is there a specific ‘cannabis psychosis’? Cambridge University Press eBooks May 27, 2004
- Cannabis Psychotic Disorder American Journal on Addictions 1994
and 9 more in the library