Is cannabis an anti-antipsychotic? The experience in psychiatric intensive care

Abstract

Our findings suggest that cannabis abusers had a more severe psychotic illness, especially in schizophrenia. There are additional complications in terms of weight gain for cannabis users.

Cannabis use by people with severe mental illness – is it important?

“…In the UK, it is estimated that between 20 and 70% of people with severe mental illness use cannabis (Miles et al, 2003;Isaac et al, 2005). A review of 53 treatment samples and 5 epidemiological studies examining the prevalence of cannabis use and misuse among people with psychosis reported lifetime use in 42% and lifetime misuse in 22.5% (Green et al, 2005).…”

“…Prevalence of current use was reported to be 23% and current misuse 11.3%. A UK study involving 115 patients in a psychiatric intensive care unit found that 71.3% were mis using cannabis (Isaac et al, 2005). These individuals were found to be more severely ill and spent longer periods in hospital care than those who did not use the drug.…”

“…In another outcome study, comparing adolescents and adults with first-episode psychosis, it was shown that the adolescents used more cannabis than the adults and had a greater number of relapses (Pencer et al, 2005). Continuing cannabis use also adversely affects the physical health of people with severe mental illness: for example, they tend to have higher blood glucose levels than those who do not use cannabis (Isaac et al, 2005). The cannabis plant contains several of the same carcinogens as tobacco and it is usually smoked by mixing it with tobacco.…”

An Update on the Epidemiology of Schizophrenia with a Special Reference to Clinically Important Risk Factors

“…Schizophrenic patients with a history of marijuana abuse are generally younger when they are first admitted to hospitals and tend to have more admissions to hospitals than schizophrenic patients who are not marijuana users (Isaac et al 2005). Poorer prognosis, higher reality distortion and more positive symptomatology are also characteristic of substance-using patients with schizophrenia (Baker et al 2005;Hambrecht and Hafner 2000).…”

Falling between the cracks. Invited commentary on … Service innovation: the first year of lifestyle clinics for psychiatric outpatients

“…They were also innovative in that they addressed a range of needs, including substance use which further increases physical morbidity in people with severe mental illness. 18,19 Resources Resources are important. The Hamilton team was lucky to have a community dietician and a mental health-specific smoking cessation specialist.…”