Characterization of mental health in cannabis dispensary users, using structured clinical interviews and standardized assessment instruments
Abstract Background Cannabis is commonly used for its medical properties. In particular, cannabis is purported to have beneficial effects on a wide range of neuropsychiatric conditions. Studies assessing mental health in cannabis dispensary users typically evaluate symptoms using self-report check l...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-019-2324-z |
| _version_ | 1818995414568796160 |
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| author | Jade C. Yau Shu Min Yu William J. Panenka Hadley Pearce Kristina M. Gicas Ric M. Procyshyn Caroline MacCallum William G. Honer Alasdair M. Barr |
| author_facet | Jade C. Yau Shu Min Yu William J. Panenka Hadley Pearce Kristina M. Gicas Ric M. Procyshyn Caroline MacCallum William G. Honer Alasdair M. Barr |
| author_sort | Jade C. Yau |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Cannabis is commonly used for its medical properties. In particular, cannabis is purported to have beneficial effects on a wide range of neuropsychiatric conditions. Studies assessing mental health in cannabis dispensary users typically evaluate symptoms using self-report check lists, which provide limited information about symptom severity, and whether subjects meet criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis. There is, therefore, a need for studies which assess mental health in dispensary users with standardized and well validated scientific instruments, such as those used in clinical drug trials. Methods One hundred medical cannabis users were recruited from a community dispensary. All subjects completed a structured clinical interview with the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Subjects also completed the Perceived Stress Scale-10, PROMIS Fatigue Scale, PROMIS Sleep Disturbance Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 and the Brief Pain Inventory. Details about cannabis use were also recorded. Results Lifetime prevalence of mental illness in this cohort was high, and a large proportion of subjects endorsed psychological symptoms. The proportion of subjects who met criteria for classification of a current psychiatric disorder was low for mood disorders, but high for anxiety disorders and substance abuse/dependence. Cannabis use differed between the main psychiatric conditions. Conclusions The present results indicate that rates of mental illness may be high in medical cannabis dispensary users. Use of structured clinical assessments combined with standardized symptom severity questionnaires provide a feasible way to provide a more rigorous and detailed evaluation of conditions and symptoms in this population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T21:13:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-18ef8920924849de836d6e12bdf8245e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T21:13:28Z |
| publishDate | 2019-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-18ef8920924849de836d6e12bdf8245e2022-12-21T19:26:28ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2019-11-0119111210.1186/s12888-019-2324-zCharacterization of mental health in cannabis dispensary users, using structured clinical interviews and standardized assessment instrumentsJade C. Yau0Shu Min Yu1William J. Panenka2Hadley Pearce3Kristina M. Gicas4Ric M. Procyshyn5Caroline MacCallum6William G. Honer7Alasdair M. Barr8Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of British ColumbiaDepartment of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of British ColumbiaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of British ColumbiaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of British ColumbiaDepartment of Psychology, York UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, University of British ColumbiaDepartment of Medicine, University of British ColumbiaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of British ColumbiaDepartment of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of British ColumbiaAbstract Background Cannabis is commonly used for its medical properties. In particular, cannabis is purported to have beneficial effects on a wide range of neuropsychiatric conditions. Studies assessing mental health in cannabis dispensary users typically evaluate symptoms using self-report check lists, which provide limited information about symptom severity, and whether subjects meet criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis. There is, therefore, a need for studies which assess mental health in dispensary users with standardized and well validated scientific instruments, such as those used in clinical drug trials. Methods One hundred medical cannabis users were recruited from a community dispensary. All subjects completed a structured clinical interview with the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Subjects also completed the Perceived Stress Scale-10, PROMIS Fatigue Scale, PROMIS Sleep Disturbance Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 and the Brief Pain Inventory. Details about cannabis use were also recorded. Results Lifetime prevalence of mental illness in this cohort was high, and a large proportion of subjects endorsed psychological symptoms. The proportion of subjects who met criteria for classification of a current psychiatric disorder was low for mood disorders, but high for anxiety disorders and substance abuse/dependence. Cannabis use differed between the main psychiatric conditions. Conclusions The present results indicate that rates of mental illness may be high in medical cannabis dispensary users. Use of structured clinical assessments combined with standardized symptom severity questionnaires provide a feasible way to provide a more rigorous and detailed evaluation of conditions and symptoms in this population.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-019-2324-zCannabisClinical interviewDispensaryMental healthMINIPsychiatric symptoms |
| spellingShingle | Jade C. Yau Shu Min Yu William J. Panenka Hadley Pearce Kristina M. Gicas Ric M. Procyshyn Caroline MacCallum William G. Honer Alasdair M. Barr Characterization of mental health in cannabis dispensary users, using structured clinical interviews and standardized assessment instruments BMC Psychiatry Cannabis Clinical interview Dispensary Mental health MINI Psychiatric symptoms |
| title | Characterization of mental health in cannabis dispensary users, using structured clinical interviews and standardized assessment instruments |
| title_full | Characterization of mental health in cannabis dispensary users, using structured clinical interviews and standardized assessment instruments |
| title_fullStr | Characterization of mental health in cannabis dispensary users, using structured clinical interviews and standardized assessment instruments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization of mental health in cannabis dispensary users, using structured clinical interviews and standardized assessment instruments |
| title_short | Characterization of mental health in cannabis dispensary users, using structured clinical interviews and standardized assessment instruments |
| title_sort | characterization of mental health in cannabis dispensary users using structured clinical interviews and standardized assessment instruments |
| topic | Cannabis Clinical interview Dispensary Mental health MINI Psychiatric symptoms |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-019-2324-z |
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