Cannabis and schizophrenia

Abstract

Background Schizophrenia is a mental illness causing disordered beliefs, ideas and sensations. Many people with schizophrenia smoke cannabis, and it is unclear why a large proportion do so and if the effects are harmful or beneficial. It is also unclear what the best method is to allow people with schizophrenia to alter their cannabis intake. Objectives To assess the effects of specific psychological treatments for cannabis reduction in people with schizophrenia. To assess the effects of antipsychotics for cannabis reduction in people with schizophrenia. To assess the effects of cannabinoids (cannabis related chemical compounds derived from cannabis or manufactured) for symptom reduction in people with schizophrenia. Search methods We searched the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group Trials Register, 12 August 2013, which is based on regular searches of BIOSIS, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PUBMED and PsycINFO. We searched all references of articles selected for inclusion for further relevant trials. We contacted the first author of included studies for unpublished trials or data. Selection criteria We included all randomised controlled trials involving cannabinoids and schizophrenia/schizophrenia-like illnesses, which assessed: 1) treatments to reduce cannabis use in people with schizophrenia; 2) the effects of cannabinoids on people with schizophrenia.

Association Between Lifetime Marijuana Use and Cognitive Function in Middle Age

“…Schizophrenia and psychotropic medication have been associated with both cognitive impairment and marijuana use and could therefore act as confounder of the association between marijuana and CF. 25,26 We evaluated the sensitivity of the analyses to inclusion of self-reported schizophrenia (see eMethods) as a covariate in the multivariate adjusted models and by exclusion of participants with self-reported schizophrenia. We also tested the sensitivity of the results by inclusion of psychoactive medications in the main multivariate model.…”

Opioidsubstitutionsbehandlung und Cannabiskonsum

“…Bei Patienten, die sich in einer Substitutionsbehandlung befinden, kann der vermehrte Konsum von Cannabis das Risiko für die Exazerbation einer Psychose erhöhen [44,45]. Sollte die Psychose exazerbieren, kann dies gravierende Folgen für die weitere Durchführung der geregelten Substitutionstherapie nach sich ziehen und evtl.…”

Animal models of gene–environment interaction in schizophrenia: A dimensional perspective

“…CBD is suggested to possess antipsychotic properties as well as the ability to reverse the acute effects of THC (Iseger and Bossong, 2015; Schubart et al, 2014). Still, the data on clinical efficacy of CBD are still limited and more studies are clearly needed to conclusively support the beneficial role of the compound (McLoughlin et al, 2014). …”