Cannabis Use in Psychotic Patients

• Published in: Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry Vol. 33; no. 4; pp. 529 - 532
• Main Authors: Sembhi, Sati, Lee, Joseph W.Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01-08-1999; Informa
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Biological and medical sciences; Comorbidity; Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); Drug abuse; Female; Hospitals; Humans; Male; Marijuana Abuse - diagnosis; Marijuana Abuse - epidemiology; Marijuana Abuse - psychology; Medical sciences; Medicine; Mental health; New Zealand - epidemiology; Other psychotic disorders; Patient Admission - statistics & numerical data; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychoses; Psychoses, Substance-Induced - diagnosis; Psychoses, Substance-Induced - epidemiology; Psychoses, Substance-Induced - psychology; Psychotic Disorders - diagnosis; Psychotic Disorders - epidemiology; Psychotic Disorders - psychology; Surveys; New Zealand; Oceania; cannabinoids—adverse effects; cannabis; psychosis; Consumption; Human; Illicit drug; Toxicity; Acute; Hospital environment; Cannabidaceae; Psychosis; Symptomatology; Cannabis; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta
• ISSN: 0004-8674; 1440-1614
• DOI: 10.1080/j.1440-1614.1999.00588.x

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the level of cannabis use in psychotic patients admitted to two acute admission wards in New Zealand. Symptomatology was investigated using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS).
Method: During a 1-month period, all acute admissions to Tokanui Hospital with psychosis were interviewed and symptoms rated on the BPRS (n = 35). Cannabis use was recorded with a questionnaire and urine test. Those positive for cannabis were compared to those negative.
Results: Thirty patients (86%) had tried cannabis at least once and 11 (31%) were positive on urine screen. Those with positive urine tests were significantly more likely to use cannabis most days (p < 0.001). This positive urine test group was less likely to be thought disordered, suspicious or deluded (as measured by the BPRS).
Conclusions: Cannabis use was widespread in this sample of patients with psychosis and may affect their symptomatology. Larger studies are needed to examine these associations in more detail.