Psychiatric effects of cannabis
The British Journal of Psychiatry February 1, 2001 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.178.2.116 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Citations | 474 |
| Key findings | Argues that cannabis use carries risks of dependence and adverse effects, including psychotic states after heavy use, and that people with serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia are particularly vulnerable, with cannabis provoking relapse and aggravating symptoms. |
Abstract
Background: Cannabis is commonly regarded as an innocuous drug and the prevalence of lifetime and regular use has increased in most developed countries. However, accumulative evidence highlights the risks of dependence and other adverse effects, particularly among people with pre-existing psychiatric disorders.
Aims: To re-evaluate the adverse effects of cannabis in the general population and among vulnerable individuals, including those with serious psychiatric disorders.
Method: A wide-ranging review of the topics related to these issues. Results and conclusions An appreciable proportion of cannabis users report short-lived adverse effects, including psychotic states following heavy consumption, and regular users are at risk of dependence. People with major mental illnesses such as schizophrenia are especially vulnerable in that cannabis generally provokes relapse and aggravates existing symptoms. Health workers need to recognise, and respond to, the adverse effects of cannabis on mental health.
In the evidence
This study is part of the evidence base for a synthesis in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.
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State of the evidence: Cannabis Opposes
Argues that cannabis carries risks of dependence and short-lived psychotic states after heavy use, and that people with schizophrenia are especially vulnerable, with cannabis provoking relapse and aggravating symptoms.
Synthesized
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 | |
| Beyond THC: The New Generation of Cannabinoid Designer Drugs | 2011 | Review | |
| Cannabidiol, a Cannabis sativa constituent, as an antipsychotic drug | 2006 | Review | |
| Here today, gone tomorrow…and back again? A review of herbal marijuana alternatives (K2, Spice), synthetic cathinones (bath salts), kratom, Salvia divinorum, methoxetamine, and piperazines. General (review of novel psychoactive substances) | 2012 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 44
- Causal association between cannabis and psychosis: examination of the evidence The British Journal of Psychiatry January 30, 2004
- Cannabis-induced psychosis and subsequent schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: follow-up study of 535 incident cases The British Journal of Psychiatry November 30, 2005
- New Perspectives in the Studies on Endocannabinoid and Cannabis: Cannabinoid Receptors and Schizophrenia Journal of Pharmacological Sciences 2004
- Potential antipsychotic properties of central cannabinoid (CB1) receptor antagonists The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry March 1, 2010
- Cannabinoid Modulation of Amygdala Subregion Functional Connectivity to Social Signals of Threat The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology December 28, 2014
and 39 more in the library
Cites 9
- Acute Effects of Drug Abuse in Schizophrenic Patients: Clinical Observations and Patients' Self-reports Schizophrenia Bulletin 1990
- Psychotic Reactions Following Cannabis Use in East Indians Archives of General Psychiatry 1974
- Cannabis and acute psychosis. Schizophrenia Research September 1, 1994
- Psychiatric symptoms in cannabis users. The British Journal of Psychiatry August 1, 1993
- Cannabis and psychotic illness. The British Journal of Psychiatry November 1, 1992
and 4 more in the library