CHRONIC CANNABIS USE PRESENTING WITH NEUROCOGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT AND CANNABIS-INDUCED PSYCHOSIS: A CASE REPORT AND INTEGRATED TREATMENT APPROACH
Sidra Shehzad, Neelam Ehsan, Fatima Fayyaz, Sadia Sikander
Review journal of neurological & medical sciences review. June 10, 2026 DOI: 10.63075/pwbacr95 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A 45-year-old married male with a 20-year history of cannabis dependence |
| Interventions | antipsychotic medication psychoeducation relapse prevention strategies motivational enhancement family involvement |
| Measures | Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), DSM-5-TR Checklist for Cannabis Use Disorder, House-Tree-Person Test (HTP), Rotter Incomplete Sentence Blank (RISB), Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), drug screening tests |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | The case describes severe cannabis use disorder with recurrent psychotic symptoms, emotional dysregulation, impaired insight, and personality vulnerabilities in a 45-year-old man, with symptom exacerbation following cannabis use and medication non-adherence. Substantial improvement followed consistent antipsychotic medication and a structured psychosocial program. The authors argue for early identification and comprehensive management of cannabis-related psychiatric complications in Pakistan. |
Abstract
Cannabis-induced psychosis is a serious psychiatric condition and is associated with chronic and prolonged cannabis use. The chronic use of cannabis often results in significant cognitive, behavioural and psychosocial impairment. The present case study examined the case history of SM. He was a 45-year-old married male with a twenty-year history of cannabis dependence. He was presented with recurrent psychotic episodes characterized by aggression, irritability, grandiose delusions, self-talk, insomnia, mood instability and impaired social functioning. Clinical assessment was conducted through comprehensive interviews, behavioural observations, psychometric testing and laboratory investigations. Assessment tools included the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), DSM-5-TR Checklist for Cannabis Use Disorder, House-Tree-Person Test (HTP), Rotter Incomplete Sentence Blank (RISB), Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) and drug screening tests. Findings indicated severe Cannabis Use Disorder accompanied by recurrent psychotic symptoms, emotional dysregulation, impaired insight and significant personality vulnerabilities. The patient demonstrated a pattern of symptom exacerbation following cannabis use and medication non-adherence. A substantial improvement was observed with consistent pharmacological treatment and psychosocial intervention. A structured treatment approach incorporating antipsychotic medication, psychoeducation, relapse prevention strategies, motivational enhancement and family involvement was implemented to address both substance dependence and psychotic symptoms. The findings further underscore the need for early identification and comprehensive management of cannabis-related psychiatric complications within the Pakistani clinical context.
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 |