Skip to content

First break psychosis in a young military veteran with cannabis use disorder: an educational case report

Paulina Riess, Leo Sher

International journal of adolescent medicine and health August 18, 2020 DOI: 10.1515/ijamh-2017-0140 (opens in new tab)

Relevant Not relevant

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Case study Case report Peer reviewed
Sample size 1
Population A young non-combat veteran with obstructive sleep apnea presenting with a first psychotic break
Topics Cannabis
Key findings The authors suggest that cannabis plays an important role in the regulation of psychosis and behavior, based on a case of a young non-combat veteran with obstructive sleep apnea and a first psychotic break whose urine toxicology was positive for cannabis.

Abstract

Abstract: Psychotropic management of a first psychotic break is challenging for many psychiatrists. The literature shows that the use of cannabis is widespread in psychotic individuals. The literature also points to young males being most at risk for substance abuse. Studies also show that obstructive sleep apnea and the stress of the military lifestyle contribute to the development of psychosis. Here, we present a case study of a young non-combat veteran with a medical history of obstructive sleep apnea who presented to the Emergency Department of a Veteran’s Affairs hospital with symptoms consistent with a first psychotic break. On routine admission laboratory work, his urine toxicology screen was positive for cannabis. Given the widespread use of cannabis in individuals with psychosis, we suggest that it plays an important role in the regulation of psychosis and behavior.

Comparable studies

Other case reports and case series on cannabis, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder after psilocybin consumption: a case study 18-year-old man with HPPD after mixed psilocybin and cannabis intoxication 2005 Case study n = 1
Cannabis‐induced Koro in Americans American men aged 22-26 with years of cannabis experience who reported negative... 2001 Case series n = 3
“Hallucinations” Following Acute Cannabis Dosing: A Case Report and Comparison to Other Hallucinogenic Drugs Healthy 30-year-old male 2018 Case study n = 1
Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder: A literature review and three case reports Patients with hallucinogen persisting perception disorder 2018 Case series n = 3
Cannabis Psychosis in Young Psychiatric Inpatients Consecutive psychiatric hospital admissions of patients aged 35 and under 1986 Case study n = 25

Citations in the library

Cites 4

Related reading

Explore topics

Cannabis Addiction