J K Burns1, K Jhazbhay, R Emsley. 1. Department of Psychiatry, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. burns@ukzn.ac.za
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Cannabis use/abuse is a common co-morbid problem in patients experiencing a first episode of psychotic illness (FEP). The relationship between the clinical presentation of FEP and cannabis abuse is complex and warrants further investigation, especially within the South African context. METHOD: We tested associations between recent/current cannabis use and duration of untreated psychosis (DUP), age of onset (AO), PANSS-rated (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) positive, negative and general psychopathology symptoms and depressive symptoms (Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia) in a sample of 54 patients with FEP. RESULTS: Mean DUP was 34.4 weeks, while mean AO was 24.7 years. Co-morbid cannabis use occurred in 35% of the sample and was significantly associated with shorter DUP (Mann-Whitney U, p=0.026). While not significant, there was also a trend association between cannabis use and lower negative symptoms (Mann-Whitney U, p=0.051). CONCLUSION: Current/recent cannabis use was associated with clinical features of psychosis onset that previously have been associated with better outcome. Medium and long-term outcome for cannabis users however, is likely to depend on whether or not cannabis use is ongoing.
OBJECTIVE: Cannabis use/abuse is a common co-morbid problem in patients experiencing a first episode of psychotic illness (FEP). The relationship between the clinical presentation of FEP and cannabis abuse is complex and warrants further investigation, especially within the South African context. METHOD: We tested associations between recent/current cannabis use and duration of untreated psychosis (DUP), age of onset (AO), PANSS-rated (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) positive, negative and general psychopathology symptoms and depressive symptoms (Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia) in a sample of 54 patients with FEP. RESULTS: Mean DUP was 34.4 weeks, while mean AO was 24.7 years. Co-morbid cannabis use occurred in 35% of the sample and was significantly associated with shorter DUP (Mann-Whitney U, p=0.026). While not significant, there was also a trend association between cannabis use and lower negative symptoms (Mann-Whitney U, p=0.051). CONCLUSION: Current/recent cannabis use was associated with clinical features of psychosis onset that previously have been associated with better outcome. Medium and long-term outcome for cannabis users however, is likely to depend on whether or not cannabis use is ongoing.
Authors: Glen P Davis; Andrew Tomita; Joy Noel Baumgartner; Sisanda Mtshemla; Siphumelele Nene; Howard King; Ezra Susser; Jonathan K Burns Journal: S Afr J Psychiatr Date: 2016-05-20 Impact factor: 1.550
Authors: Anum Muzaffar; Sami Ullah; Fazal Subhan; Zahid Nazar; Syed Mehdi Hussain; Fazli Khuda; Abuzar Khan; Ameer Khusro; Muhammad Umar Khayam Sahibzada; Sarah Albogami; Ahmed M El-Shehawi; Talha Bin Emran; Binish Javed; Javed Ali Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2021-12-03 Impact factor: 4.157