Cannabisrygning og psykoser

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Abstract
This study illustrates the frequency and nature of serious psychiatric complications related to cannabis abuse. A review of recent years' literature referring to this subject leads to the conclusion that it is commonly considered that in rare cases cannabis can induce acute toxic psychosis in premorbidly healthy persons, and that it can also induce aggravation of chronically psychotic respective borderline states. A retrospective review of one years' admissions to a psychiatric hospital in a population area of 200,000 shows that 30 patients fulfilled the criteria of the study: (1) admission in a psychotic state; (2) cannabis smoking retrospectively judged as a significant factor related to the state at admission. Two patients did not have a psychiatric diagnosis other than toxic psychosis, 12 were diagnosed schizophrenic, 5 were borderline, 5 had personality disorder, and 6 an unspecified character neurotic disorder. Out of these 30 patients 27 were male. With some uncertainty the following is concluded: Of a population of 100,000 annually at least 15 persons are admitted to a psychiatric hospital because of a cannabis-provoked psychosis. A risk group is pointed out, namely younger single males who are diagnosed schizophrenic, borderline, or having a personality disorder. It is recommended that this group in particular is warned against cannabis smoking.

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