Why do Psychotic Patients use Cannabis? Case Series

Anna      Kolliakou; Khalida      Ismail; Zerrin      Atakan

Abstract

The rate of substance use, particularly cannabis, among patients with psychosis is high and much greater than in the general population. Persistent cannabis use by patients with an established psychotic disorder adversely affects prognosis and recovery. Little agreement has been reached on the reasons that sustain cannabis use in patients with psychosis although self-report studies have shown that patients appear to use cannabis largely for the same reasons as the general population i.e. to ‘get high’ or reduce negative states such as depression and boredom. The aim of this series is to explore 5 individual cases of patients with psychosis reporting cannabis use. Full clinical assessment for each patient as well as cannabis use history, reasons for use and implications for effective treatment are explored.

Keywords: Psychosis, schizophrenia, cannabis use, reasons for cannabis use, prognosis, recovery, general population, depression, boredom, cannabis use history.