Cannabis use patterns in first episode psychosis and schizophrenia: A scoping review and case series.
| Journal | Journal of psychiatric research |
| Study Type | Clinical Study |
| Population | Human participants |
This item covers developments relevant to cannabis medicine and clinical practice. Clinicians monitoring evidence in this area should review the source material.
Cannabis use is associated with psychosis development and symptom relapse in persons with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SCZ). As U.S. states legalize cannabis and products increase in potency, it is crucial to better understand recent cannabis use patterns in SCZ. We conducted a scoping review of research on cannabis quantity, frequency, or type in SCZ after January 2016 and present a case series of cannabis use in inpatients with psychosis (2023-2024). Scoping review: Of 672 references, ten studies (2631 participants) were included; none were designed to characterize cannabis quantity, frequency, or type of use over time. Cannabis measurement methodology varied; most studies did not use standardized measures. Frequency and quantity of use at baseline were reported by most studies and these ranged widely. At least a minority of participants with SCZ in each study used cannabis very frequently; quantity of used ranged widely from 0.6 ± 0.6 to 3.4 ± 2.2 joints/day. One small study de
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FAQ
Why study cannabis use patterns in people with schizophrenia?
Cannabis use is associated with the development of psychosis and with symptom relapse in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. As U.S. states legalize cannabis and products increase in potency, the authors consider it crucial to better understand recent cannabis use patterns in this group.
What did this scoping review and case series include?
The scoping review covered research from after January 2016 on the quantity, frequency, or type of cannabis used by people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Of 672 references, ten studies with 2,631 participants were included. The paper also presents a case series of inpatients with psychosis from 2023 to 2024, and it appeared in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.
How much cannabis did people with schizophrenia use in these studies?
Use varied widely. At least a minority of participants with schizophrenia spectrum disorders in each study used cannabis very frequently. Reported quantities ranged from 0.6 ± 0.6 to 3.4 ± 2.2 joints per day across studies, and baseline frequency and quantity, reported by most studies, also ranged widely.
Did the studies measure cannabis use in a consistent way?
No. Cannabis measurement methods varied across studies, and most did not use standardized measures. None of the ten included studies was designed to characterize cannabis quantity, frequency, or type of use over time.
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