Persistency of Cannabis Use Predicts Violence following Acute Psychiatric Discharge

Abstract

BackgroundViolence is a major concern and is prevalent across several mental disorders. The use of substances has been associated with an exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms as well as with violence. Compared to other substances such as alcohol and cocaine, existing literature on the cannabis–violence relationship has been more limited, with most studies being conducted in the general population, and has shown controversial results. Evidence has suggested a stronger relationship when examining the effects of the persistency of cannabis use on future violent behaviors. Though, while cannabis use is highly prevalent amid psychiatric patients, far less literature on the subject has been conducted in this population. Hence, the present prospective study aims to investigate the persistency of cannabis use in psychiatric patients.MethodThe sample comprised of 1,136 recently discharged psychiatric patients provided by the MacArthur Risk Assessment Study. A multi-wave (five-assessment) follow-up design was employed to allow temporal sequencing between substance use and violent behaviors. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to examine the effect of persistency of cannabis use on violence, while controlling for potential confounding factors. Potential bidirectional association was also investigated using the same statistical approach.ResultsOur results suggest a unidirectional association between cannabis use and violence. GEE model revealed that the continuity of cannabis use across more than one time wave was associated with increased risks of future violent behavior. Patients who reported having used cannabis at each follow-up periods were 2.44 times more likely to display violent behaviors (OR = 2.44, 95% CI: 1.06–5.63, p < 0.05).ConclusionThese findings are particularly relevant as they suggest that the longer individuals report having used cannabis after a psychiatric discharge, the more likely they are of being violent in the following time waves. These results add to our understanding of the negative consequences of chronic cannabis use amid psychiatric patients.

Neurofeedback Training for Psychiatric Disorders Associated with Criminal Offending: A Review

“…( 54 , 55 )]. Substance use is associated with higher rates of violence ( 56 ). Reducing these symptoms by neurofeedback might be promising with regard to the reduction of recidivism.…”

The Endocannabinoid System, Aggression, and the Violence of Synthetic Cannabinoid Use, Borderline Personality Disorder, Antisocial Personality Disorder, and Other Psychiatric Disorders

“…Here, we provide brief highlights of these relationships. For example, in a sample composed mainly of patients with affective disorders who had been recently discharged from hospital, persistent use of cannabis (cannabis use was coded dichotomously) was associated with violent behavior at several time points (Dugré et al, 2017 ). The combined use of cannabis (no specific amounts reported) and alcohol was also found to predict violence in SCZ (Koen et al, 2004 ).…”

Early onset of cannabis use and violent behavior in psychosis

“…In addition, the rate of CU is often high in subgroups of violent patients (VPs) with psychotic disorders [13,[22][23][24][25][26]. However, research exploring the links between CU considered specifically and VB in psychosis is still rare [23,24,[27][28][29][30][31][32] and their results are controversial due to methodological limitations and because studies have not always controlled for important confounding risk factors [31,[33][34][35].…”