Reasons for cannabis use in men with and without psychosis
BOB Green, David J. Kavanagh, Ross McD. Young
Drug and Alcohol Review December 1, 2004 DOI: 10.1080/09595230412331324563 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study with baseline and follow-up comparisons between groups Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Individuals with psychosis and a control group without psychosis who use cannabis |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | Participants with psychosis most commonly reported using cannabis for positive mood alteration, coping with negative affect, and social activity, while controls most commonly reported relaxation and social activity. Participants with psychosis were less likely than controls to report relaxation as the most important effect after use or to expect it at follow-up. In both groups, addiction and positive affect enhancement were the composite scores most consistently correlated with concurrent amount and frequency of use. |
Abstract
Abstract: Psychoses are relatively low prevalence disorders that have a disproportionately negative impact on individuals and society. Cannabis use is one factor that can exacerbate the negative consequences associated with psychotic disorders. Relatively few studies have examined the effects or reasons for using cannabis self‐reported by individuals with psychosis. The present study is the first known to compare directly such factors in individuals with and without psychosis, within a single study. At baseline and follow‐up participants with psychosis most commonly reported using cannabis for positive mood alteration (36% and 42%), coping with negative affect (27% and 29%) and for social activity reasons (38% and 29%). The control group most commonly reported using cannabis for relaxation (34% and 43%) and social activity reasons (49% and 51%). Participants with psychosis were less likely to report relaxation as the most important effect after use (27%) or expect it at follow‐up (49%) compared to the control group (53% and 70%). In both groups, addiction and positive affect enhancement were the composite variable scores correlated most consistently with concurrent amount and frequency of use.
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 11
- Subjective Effects of Cannabis Before the First Psychotic Episode Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry December 1, 2009
- Cognitive mechanisms in cannabis-related paranoia; Initial testing and model proposal Psychosis May 13, 2020
- From heavy cannabis use to psychosis: is it time to take action? Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine May 27, 2021
- Epidemiological and biological mechanisms of cannabis as cause of psychosis 2012
- Cross cultural studies on adolescent cannabis use and psychosis 2011
and 6 more in the library