Cannabis use for PTSD patients
Patients experiencing a first episode of psychosis may endure worse treatment outcomes from cannabis use, according to researchers, after finding that such patients are 50% more likely to be admitted to the hospital after initial treatment than non-users.
Psychosis is a term used to describe symptoms of a mental illness that cause a person to lose touch with reality, such as hallucinations or delusions. These are often symptoms of disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness around 3 in every 100 people in the US will experience a psychotic episode some point in their lives, young adults most at risk.
Previous research has suggested cannabis use for individuals are at greater risk of psychotic episodes, particularly if they use the drug in adolescence.
However, study coauthor Dr. Rashmi Patel, of the Department of Psychosis Studies at King's College London in the UK, note that it is unclear whether people who are already experiencing a psychotic episode are at greater risk for relapse as a result of cannabis use.
With a view to finding out, the team analyzed the health records of 2,026 people who had been treated for a first episode of psychosis at the UK's South London and Maudsley (SLaM) National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust between 2006-2013.
The researchers assessed patients' cannabis use within a month of their first treatment visit and tracked any subsequent treatment and outcomes for the following 5 years.
More hospital admissions, antipsychotic prescriptions for cannabis use
The health records revealed that around 46.3% of the patients were using cannabis within 1 month of initiating treatment for a first psychotic episode, with use of the drug most common among single men aged 16-25.
Compared with patients who did not use cannabis, those who did were 50% more likely to be readmitted to the hospital in the 5 years after initial treatment; cannabis users had an average of 1.8 hospital admissions over the 5 years, while non-users had an average of 1.2 admissions.
Cannabis users were also more likely to experience compulsory hospital detention under the UK's Mental Health Act, with 45% of users being sectioned, compared with 34% of those who did not use the drug.
Psychosis patients who used cannabis were also at greater risk for longer hospital stays, particularly after completion of 2 years of treatment; compared with non-users, the average hospital stay for those who used cannabis increased from 21 days to 35 days in the 3-5 years after starting treatment.
What is more, the researchers found that cannabis users were more likely to be prescribed a drug called clozapine - commonly used for hard-to-treat schizophrenia - and had a higher number of prescriptions for a range of other antipsychotic medications in the 5 years after first treatment, compared with non-users.
Compared with patients who did not use cannabis, those who did were 50% more likely to be readmitted to the hospital in the 5 years after initial treatment; cannabis users had an average of 1.8 hospital admissions over the 5 years, while non-users had an average of 1.2 admissions.
Cannabis users were also more likely to experience compulsory hospital detention under the UK's Mental Health Act, with 45% of users being sectioned, compared with 34% of those who did not use the drug.
Psychosis patients who used cannabis were also at greater risk for longer hospital stays, particularly after completion of 2 years of treatment; compared with non-users, the average hospital stay for those who used cannabis increased from 21 days to 35 days in the 3-5 years after starting treatment.
What is more, the researchers found that cannabis users were more likely to be prescribed a drug called clozapine - commonly used for hard-to-treat schizophrenia - and had a higher number of prescriptions for a range of other antipsychotic medications in the 5 years after first treatment, compared with non-users.
Cannabis use may lead to antipsychotic treatment failure
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