Rates and correlates of cannabis-associated psychotic symptoms in over 230,000 people who use cannabis
Abstract Cannabis, a widely used psychoactive substance, can trigger acute cannabis-associated psychotic symptoms (CAPS) in people who use cannabis (PWUC). To assess rates and correlates of CAPS requiring emergency medical treatment, we analyzed data from an international sample of PWUC (n = 233,475...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Publishing Group
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Translational Psychiatry |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-022-02112-8 |
| _version_ | 1798002973890052096 |
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| author | Tabea Schoeler Jason Ferris Adam R. Winstock |
| author_facet | Tabea Schoeler Jason Ferris Adam R. Winstock |
| author_sort | Tabea Schoeler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Cannabis, a widely used psychoactive substance, can trigger acute cannabis-associated psychotic symptoms (CAPS) in people who use cannabis (PWUC). To assess rates and correlates of CAPS requiring emergency medical treatment, we analyzed data from an international sample of PWUC (n = 233,475). We found that 0.47% (95%CI 0.42; 0.52) PWUC reported lifetime occurrence of CAPS, defined as the occurrence of hallucinations and/or paranoia requiring emergency medical treatment following the use of cannabis. A range of factors correlated with risk of CAPS in the last year: higher rates were observed in young individuals [risk ratio (RR) 2.66, compared to older PWUC] and those residing in Denmark (RR 3.01, compared to PWUC from other countries). Furthermore, risk was elevated in those using predominantly high-potency resin (RR 2.11, compared to PWUC using herbal cannabis), those mixing cannabis with tobacco (RR 2.15, compared to PWUC not mixing with tobacco) and those with a diagnosis of psychosis (RR 14.01), bipolar (RR 4.30), anxiety (RR 2.92) and depression (RR 2.68), compared to individuals without a mental health diagnosis. Taken together, acute self-limiting psychotic symptoms in the context of cannabis use may occur in about 1 in 200 PWUC’s lifetime. Some individuals could be particularly sensitive to the adverse psychological effects of cannabis, such as young individuals or those with pre-existing mental health vulnerabilities. In light of the movements towards legalization of recreational cannabis, more research should focus on the potential harms related to cannabis use, to educate PWUC and the public about risks related to its use. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:00:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-67f20bf032a842598d7e2cd47b3a5154 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2158-3188 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:00:52Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Nature Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Translational Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-67f20bf032a842598d7e2cd47b3a51542022-12-22T04:24:51ZengNature Publishing GroupTranslational Psychiatry2158-31882022-09-011211810.1038/s41398-022-02112-8Rates and correlates of cannabis-associated psychotic symptoms in over 230,000 people who use cannabisTabea Schoeler0Jason Ferris1Adam R. Winstock2Department of Computational Biology, University of LausanneThe Centre for Health Services Research, The University of QueenslandInstitute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College LondonAbstract Cannabis, a widely used psychoactive substance, can trigger acute cannabis-associated psychotic symptoms (CAPS) in people who use cannabis (PWUC). To assess rates and correlates of CAPS requiring emergency medical treatment, we analyzed data from an international sample of PWUC (n = 233,475). We found that 0.47% (95%CI 0.42; 0.52) PWUC reported lifetime occurrence of CAPS, defined as the occurrence of hallucinations and/or paranoia requiring emergency medical treatment following the use of cannabis. A range of factors correlated with risk of CAPS in the last year: higher rates were observed in young individuals [risk ratio (RR) 2.66, compared to older PWUC] and those residing in Denmark (RR 3.01, compared to PWUC from other countries). Furthermore, risk was elevated in those using predominantly high-potency resin (RR 2.11, compared to PWUC using herbal cannabis), those mixing cannabis with tobacco (RR 2.15, compared to PWUC not mixing with tobacco) and those with a diagnosis of psychosis (RR 14.01), bipolar (RR 4.30), anxiety (RR 2.92) and depression (RR 2.68), compared to individuals without a mental health diagnosis. Taken together, acute self-limiting psychotic symptoms in the context of cannabis use may occur in about 1 in 200 PWUC’s lifetime. Some individuals could be particularly sensitive to the adverse psychological effects of cannabis, such as young individuals or those with pre-existing mental health vulnerabilities. In light of the movements towards legalization of recreational cannabis, more research should focus on the potential harms related to cannabis use, to educate PWUC and the public about risks related to its use.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-022-02112-8 |
| spellingShingle | Tabea Schoeler Jason Ferris Adam R. Winstock Rates and correlates of cannabis-associated psychotic symptoms in over 230,000 people who use cannabis Translational Psychiatry |
| title | Rates and correlates of cannabis-associated psychotic symptoms in over 230,000 people who use cannabis |
| title_full | Rates and correlates of cannabis-associated psychotic symptoms in over 230,000 people who use cannabis |
| title_fullStr | Rates and correlates of cannabis-associated psychotic symptoms in over 230,000 people who use cannabis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rates and correlates of cannabis-associated psychotic symptoms in over 230,000 people who use cannabis |
| title_short | Rates and correlates of cannabis-associated psychotic symptoms in over 230,000 people who use cannabis |
| title_sort | rates and correlates of cannabis associated psychotic symptoms in over 230 000 people who use cannabis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-022-02112-8 |
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