Prevalence of cannabis use in people with psychosis in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Background: There is a high prevalence of cannabis use in patients with schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, with comorbid cannabis use in this population being associated with poorer long-term outcomes. Aim: To determine the prevalence of cannabis use in patients with a schizophre...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2022-10-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1927 |
| _version_ | 1811243852894306304 |
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| author | Khanya Mona Vuyokazi Ntlantsana Andrew M. Tomita Saeeda Paruk |
| author_facet | Khanya Mona Vuyokazi Ntlantsana Andrew M. Tomita Saeeda Paruk |
| author_sort | Khanya Mona |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: There is a high prevalence of cannabis use in patients with schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, with comorbid cannabis use in this population being associated with poorer long-term outcomes.
Aim: To determine the prevalence of cannabis use in patients with a schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders.
Setting: The study was conducted at a psychiatric hospital in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.
Methods: A review of clinical records of patients admitted to the hospital for the period, June 2018 to June 2020, was conducted.
Results: A total of 370 clinical records were reviewed, of which 48.9% reported current and 51.1% lifetime cannabis use. Being male was significantly associated with current and lifetime cannabis use (OR = 4.90, 95% CI 2.49–9.62 and OR = 6.27, 95% CI 3.28–11.95, respectively). Current alcohol use was also associated with current cannabis use (CCU) (OR = 3.06, 95% CI 1.78–5.28), and age 45 years and older was associated with a lower odds of cannabis use (OR = 0.30, 95% CI 0.09–0.96). Forty-eight per cent of participants were admitted three or more times, and readmission was associated with cannabis use (p = 0.01). There was a lack of association between cannabis use, readmission and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status, after controlling for variables such as alcohol use and gender.
Conclusion: Almost 50% of people admitted with schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders have comorbid current and lifetime cannabis use. There is a need for dual diagnosis units to address comorbid substance use in people with psychotic disorders, as it leads to poorer outcomes.
Contribution: The study found that there is a high prevalence of cannabis use in people with psychosis. Therefore, it is imperative that we revise treatment programs in our psychiatric units and there is an urgent need for dual diagnosis programs that address substance use in this group of patients. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T14:14:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a084d1d676ac4c4386ea7109b74df360 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1608-9685 2078-6786 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T14:14:27Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-a084d1d676ac4c4386ea7109b74df3602022-12-22T03:29:46ZengAOSISSouth African Journal of Psychiatry1608-96852078-67862022-10-01280e1e810.4102/sajpsychiatry.v28i0.1927624Prevalence of cannabis use in people with psychosis in KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaKhanya Mona0Vuyokazi Ntlantsana1Andrew M. Tomita2Saeeda Paruk3Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanDiscipline of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanDepartment of Psychiatry, KwaZulu Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu- Natal, Durban, South Africa; and Discipline of Psychiatry, Centre of Rural Health, School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, DurbanDiscipline of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-NatalBackground: There is a high prevalence of cannabis use in patients with schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, with comorbid cannabis use in this population being associated with poorer long-term outcomes. Aim: To determine the prevalence of cannabis use in patients with a schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders. Setting: The study was conducted at a psychiatric hospital in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Methods: A review of clinical records of patients admitted to the hospital for the period, June 2018 to June 2020, was conducted. Results: A total of 370 clinical records were reviewed, of which 48.9% reported current and 51.1% lifetime cannabis use. Being male was significantly associated with current and lifetime cannabis use (OR = 4.90, 95% CI 2.49–9.62 and OR = 6.27, 95% CI 3.28–11.95, respectively). Current alcohol use was also associated with current cannabis use (CCU) (OR = 3.06, 95% CI 1.78–5.28), and age 45 years and older was associated with a lower odds of cannabis use (OR = 0.30, 95% CI 0.09–0.96). Forty-eight per cent of participants were admitted three or more times, and readmission was associated with cannabis use (p = 0.01). There was a lack of association between cannabis use, readmission and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status, after controlling for variables such as alcohol use and gender. Conclusion: Almost 50% of people admitted with schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders have comorbid current and lifetime cannabis use. There is a need for dual diagnosis units to address comorbid substance use in people with psychotic disorders, as it leads to poorer outcomes. Contribution: The study found that there is a high prevalence of cannabis use in people with psychosis. Therefore, it is imperative that we revise treatment programs in our psychiatric units and there is an urgent need for dual diagnosis programs that address substance use in this group of patients.https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1927schizophrenia spectrum disorderpsychotic disorderscannabis usesouth africaalcohol use. |
| spellingShingle | Khanya Mona Vuyokazi Ntlantsana Andrew M. Tomita Saeeda Paruk Prevalence of cannabis use in people with psychosis in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa South African Journal of Psychiatry schizophrenia spectrum disorder psychotic disorders cannabis use south africa alcohol use. |
| title | Prevalence of cannabis use in people with psychosis in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| title_full | Prevalence of cannabis use in people with psychosis in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of cannabis use in people with psychosis in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of cannabis use in people with psychosis in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| title_short | Prevalence of cannabis use in people with psychosis in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| title_sort | prevalence of cannabis use in people with psychosis in kwazulu natal south africa |
| topic | schizophrenia spectrum disorder psychotic disorders cannabis use south africa alcohol use. |
| url | https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1927 |
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