Psychosis and Cannabis Abuse in the Gambia
M. Rolfe, C. M. Tang, S. Sabally, J. E. Todd, E. B. Sam, A. B. Hatib N'jie
The British Journal of Psychiatry December 1, 1993 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.163.6.798 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case-control study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 210 |
| Population | Patients admitted to Campama Psychiatric Unit in The Gambia over 12 months, compared with matched non-psychotic control subjects |
| Duration | 12 months |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | A positive urinary cannabinoid test, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, travel to Europe, and family history of mental illness were significant risk factors for psychotic illness, while Koranic education reduced risk. Cannabinoids were detected in 38% of psychotic patients versus 12% of matched controls. |
Abstract
Cannabis abuse is a major public health problem in The Gambia and other parts of West Africa, and the rise in the incidence of psychotic illness reflects the increased background use of cannabis by the local population. A case-control study was performed to determine the association between psychosis and cannabis abuse in The Gambia and the importance of other risk factors. Out of 234 patients admitted to Campama Psychiatric Unit over 12 months, 210 (90%) were enrolled in a case-control study. Urine was tested for cannabinoid substances and 38% were positive compared with 12% of matched non-psychotic control subjects. Analysis of the matched pairs showed that a positive urinary cannabinoid test, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, travel to Europe and family history of mental illness were all significant risk factors for psychotic illness; Koranic education reduced the risk. There was a positive correlation among the psychotic patients between a positive urinary cannabinoid test and the use of alcohol, ataya tea and cigarette smoking; a family history of mental illness showed a negative correlation.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 9
- Gone to Pot – A Review of the Association between Cannabis and Psychosis Frontiers in Psychiatry May 22, 2014
- An overview of systematic reviews on cannabis and psychosis: Discussing apparently conflicting results Drug and Alcohol Review May 1, 2010
- Familial Predisposition for Psychiatric Disorder Archives of General Psychiatry November 3, 2008
- Is there a specific ‘cannabis psychosis’? Cambridge University Press eBooks May 27, 2004
- Cannabis use and outcome of recent onset psychosis European Psychiatry June 1, 2005
and 4 more in the library