Impact of Cannabis Use on the Development of Psychotic Disorders

Summary & key facts

This review looks at evidence linking cannabis use to psychotic symptoms and psychotic disorders. It describes three ways cannabis and cannabinoids can be related to psychosis: short-term symptoms during intoxication, short-term psychosis that lasts after intoxication, and longer-term psychotic disorders that are not tied to a single use. Experimental studies show THC and some synthetic cannabinoids can cause temporary positive, negative, and thinking problems in healthy people. Adolescent cannabis exposure is associated with a higher risk of later psychotic disorder, but cannabis alone is not enough to cause schizophrenia. Factors such as age at first use, childhood abuse, and genetic vulne

Key facts:

• Experimental studies found that cannabis, THC, and some synthetic cannabinoids produce temporary positive symptoms (like paranoia), negative symptoms (like social withdrawal), and cognitive problems in healthy volunteers.
• About 20–50% of people who use cannabis report altered behavior or transient psychotic symptoms during intoxication.
• Case reports and clinical observations indicate cannabinoid-induced psychosis can persist beyond intoxication but typically resolves within a month.
• Using cannabis in adolescence is associated with an increased risk of developing a psychotic disorder later in adulthood. The link shows dose-response and a clear time order (use before illness) in multiple studies.
• The authors state that cannabis is neither necessary nor sufficient to cause persistent psychotic disorders. It is described as a component cause that likely interacts with other factors.
• Lower levels of cannabidiol (CBD) in cannabis have been associated with higher rates of psychosis in some studies. CBD has been shown to reduce some of THC’s psychosis-like effects in research.
• Synthetic cannabinoids (sold as Spice or K2) are often stronger CB1 agonists than THC and have been linked to cases of severe psychosis.
• The association between cannabis and psychosis is moderated by factors such as younger age at first use, a history of childhood abuse, and genetic vulnerability.

Topics

Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research Sleep and Wakefulness Research

Categories

Health Sciences Medicine Pharmacology

Tags

Cannabidiol Cannabinoid Cannabis Clinical psychology Diathesis Effects of cannabis Immunology Internal medicine Medicine Psychiatry Psychology Psychosis Receptor Schizophrenia (object-oriented programming)

Substances

Cannabis

Conditions & symptoms

Difficulty focusing Feeling disconnected from others