Psychosis – Different presentation for designer drugs compared to cannabis abusers?
F. Dumitrescu
European Psychiatry April 1, 2017 DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.02.446 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Retrospective chart review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 107 |
| Population | Male inpatients admitted to the department of addictions, "Al. Obregia" Psychiatric Hospital, Bucharest, with a diagnosis of psychotic disorder and recorded cannabis and/or bath salts abuse |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | Positive psychotic symptoms were associated with cannabis and bath salts abuse, while bath salts use was associated with negative symptoms. Disorganised behaviour was the most frequent symptom (73.3%), followed by formal thought disorder (55.8%) and paranoid delusions (45%); longer cannabis use was associated with disorganised behaviour, and multidrug abuse with more formal thought disorder than cannabis alone. |
Abstract
Introduction: “Bath salts” target the endocannabinoid system in a similar manner to cannabis. In the case of designer drug misuse, subjects seem to be at higher risk of psychotic symptoms.
Aims: To investigate the nature and frequency of psychotic symptoms associated with cannabis and/or bath salts misuse in a male inpatient population.
Method: The files of 107 patients admitted to the department of addictions, “Al. Obregia” Psychiatric Hospital Bucharest July 2015–July 2016 were reviewed. Cases had a diagnosis of psychotic disorder with recorded cannabis/bath salts abuse.
Results: Mean age was 26.65 years old (STDV = 5.9). Mean duration of use was of 83.94 months – cannabis; 60.48 months – bath salts and 33.75 months – both substances (BS). Sixty-three patients (73.3%) presented disorganised behaviour; 55.8% (n = 48) formal thought disorder; 45% (n = 39) paranoid delusions. A strong positive association between the length of use of cannabis and disorganised behaviour (n = 33; r = 0.05; P < 0.05) was found. Grandiose ideation was frequent in cannabis users. (X2 = 4.1; n = 0.03; P < 0.05). Multidrug abuse was associated with increased formal thought disorders compared to subjects with cannabis abuse (X2 = 10.9; n = 0.001; P < 0.05). Negative symptoms were more frequent with bath salts users than with users of both substances (X2 = 13.4; X2 = 23.21; X2 = 16.8; P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Positive psychotic symptoms were associated with cannabis and BS abuse, while bath salts promoted negative symptoms. Disclosure of interest: The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.
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 |