Abstract
Objectives: This paper aimed to critically review the current literature concerning the possible association between cannabis use and suicidal behavior in patients with psychosis and in non-psychotic samples.
Methods: We performed a detailed Pubmed/Medline, Scopus, PsycLit, and PsycInfo search to identify all papers and book chapters focusing on the association between cannabis use, and suicidal behavior during the period between 1980 and 2011.
Results: Most, but not all studies reported an association between suicidal behavior and cannabis use both in psychotic and non-psychotic samples. However, there were also some studies suggesting a weak (not direct) association between these two phenomena. Overall, those who attempt or complete suicide are characterized by additional risk factors such as mood disorders, stressful life events, interpersonal problems, poor social support, lonely lives, and feelings of hopelessness.
Limitations: It was not possible to perform a meta-analysis due to the high heterogeneity of individual data.
Conclusions: Cannabis use was a relevant risk factor associated with both suicidal attempts and behaviors in psychotic and non-psychotic samples. Preventive programs should be directed on reducing cannabis use, particularly in psychotic subjects. Evidence suggests that targeted suicide prevention programs can be also developed in specific at-risk subgroups such as those at genetic or clinical high risk of psychosis.
Keywords: Cannabis use, suicidal behavior, psychosis, youths, prevention.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Can Cannabis Increase the Suicide Risk in Psychosis? A Critical Review
Volume: 18 Issue: 32
Author(s): Gianluca Serafini, Maurizio Pompili, Marco Innamorati, Zoltan Rihmer, Leo Sher and Paolo Girardi
Affiliation:
Keywords: Cannabis use, suicidal behavior, psychosis, youths, prevention.
Abstract: Objectives: This paper aimed to critically review the current literature concerning the possible association between cannabis use and suicidal behavior in patients with psychosis and in non-psychotic samples.
Methods: We performed a detailed Pubmed/Medline, Scopus, PsycLit, and PsycInfo search to identify all papers and book chapters focusing on the association between cannabis use, and suicidal behavior during the period between 1980 and 2011.
Results: Most, but not all studies reported an association between suicidal behavior and cannabis use both in psychotic and non-psychotic samples. However, there were also some studies suggesting a weak (not direct) association between these two phenomena. Overall, those who attempt or complete suicide are characterized by additional risk factors such as mood disorders, stressful life events, interpersonal problems, poor social support, lonely lives, and feelings of hopelessness.
Limitations: It was not possible to perform a meta-analysis due to the high heterogeneity of individual data.
Conclusions: Cannabis use was a relevant risk factor associated with both suicidal attempts and behaviors in psychotic and non-psychotic samples. Preventive programs should be directed on reducing cannabis use, particularly in psychotic subjects. Evidence suggests that targeted suicide prevention programs can be also developed in specific at-risk subgroups such as those at genetic or clinical high risk of psychosis.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Serafini Gianluca, Pompili Maurizio, Innamorati Marco, Rihmer Zoltan, Sher Leo and Girardi Paolo, Can Cannabis Increase the Suicide Risk in Psychosis? A Critical Review, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2012; 18 (32) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161212802884663
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161212802884663 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Anesthetic Agents and Neuronal Autophagy. What We Know and What We Don't.
Current Medicinal Chemistry Sol-Gel Biopolymer/Silica Nanocomposites in Biotechnology
Current Nanoscience Plant and Animal Steroids a New Hope to Search for Antiviral Agents
Current Medicinal Chemistry Homocysteine Enhances Transmigration of Rat Monocytes through a Brain Capillary Endothelial Cell Monolayer via ICAM-1
Current Neurovascular Research Meditation: A Review of its Use in Western Medicine and, in Particular, its Role in the Management of Sexual Dysfunction
Current Psychiatry Reviews C5a, a Therapeutic Target in Sepsis
Recent Patents on Anti-Infective Drug Discovery Epigenetic Control of MicroRNA Expression and Aging
Current Genomics The Pharmacology of Human Appetite Expression
Current Drug Targets The Summary of the Scale and the Methods to Inhibit and Remove Scale Formation in the Oil Well and the Gathering Line
Recent Patents on Chemical Engineering Viruses in Semen and Male Genital Tissues - Consequences for the Reproductive System and Therapeutic Perspectives
Current Pharmaceutical Design Rectifying Attenuated Store-Operated Calcium Entry as a Therapeutic Approach for Alzheimer’s Disease
Current Alzheimer Research Artificial Hibernation by Phenothiazines: A Potential Neuroprotective Therapy Against Cerebral Inflammation in Stroke
Current Neurovascular Research Exploring Structure-Activity Relationships of Tricyclic Farnesyltransferase Inhibitors Using ECLiPS® Libraries
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening Chagas Disease: Progress and New Perspectives
Current Medicinal Chemistry The Complex Role of Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines in Cysticercosis:Immunological Lessons from Experimental and Natural Hosts
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Synthesis, Molecular Docking and In Vitro Antimicrobial Studies of New Hexahydroindazole Derivatives of Curcumin
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery Comparative Account of Quality Management and Regulatory Aspects of Products with Health Claims: Existing Approaches and Future Challenges for Probiotics and Herbal Products
Applied Clinical Research, Clinical Trials and Regulatory Affairs Induction of Cellular Oxidative Stress by the β-amyloid Peptide Involved in Alzheimers disease
Protein & Peptide Letters Transglutaminase-Catalyzed Post-Translational Modifications of Proteins in the Nervous System and their Possible Involvement in Neurodegenerative Diseases
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Ribozymes in the Age of Molecular Therapeutics
Current Molecular Medicine