2743 – Why Do First-Episode Psychosis Patients Use Cannabis? Case-control Study
L. Gómez, A. Sabaté, A. Mané, D. Bergé, A. Merino, A. Bulbena
European Psychiatry 2013 DOI: 10.1016/s0924-9338(13)77343-7 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case-control study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 66 |
| Population | First-episode psychosis cannabis users and non-psychotic cannabis users |
| Measures | self-reported reasons for cannabis use questionnaire adapted from Dixon et al. |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | First-episode psychosis patients and non-psychotic cannabis users did not differ significantly in any reason for cannabis use, with both groups mainly citing relaxation, better sleep, getting high, and pleasurable experiences. The authors argue this lack of difference does not support the self-medication hypothesis, though they call for more research to rule it out. |
Abstract
Introduction: There is a high prevalence of cannabis use among patients with psychosis. Persistent cannabis use in firstepisode psychosis affects prognosis and recovery. Understanding the reasons of cannabis use may help improve psychosis outcome. Several studies suggest that cannabis is used to ameliorate symptoms related to the disorder (self-medication hypothesis). Comparing the reasons of cannabis use in first-episode patients with a control group, may help to acknowledge that question. So far few studies with a control group have been carried out.
Aim: Identify the reasons of cannabis use in first-episode psychotic cannabis users and compare them to non-psychotic cannabis users.
Methods: Thirty-two first-episode psychosis cannabis users and thirty-four non-psychotic cannabis users were included. They completed a self-reported reasons for use cannabis questionnaire, adapted from Dixon et al.
Results: The amount and frequency of cannabis use was higher in patients with first-episode psychosis than controls (6.47+/- 8.2 patients vs 19.59+/- 27.7 controls; p=0.024). The two groups did not differ significantly in any of the reasons for cannabis use. The main factors attracting them to use cannabis were: relaxation, sleep better, getting high and pleasurable experiences.
Conclusion: Both first-episode psychosis and controls seem to use cannabis for the same reasons, which does not support the self-medication hypothesis. However additional research would be necessary to further investigate cannabis use correlation with symptoms to discard that hypothesis. Recognition of the actual reasons of use should help prevention strategists to develop appropriate programmes to general and specific audiences.
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 |