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Updated: May 21, 2026
07:30
Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
Published on: August 18, 2020
Why do psychotic patients use cannabis? Case series
Anna Kolliakou1, Khalida Ismail, Zerrin Atakan
1Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK. anna.kolliakou@kcl.ac.uk
Current Pharmaceutical Design
|June 22, 2012
Summary
Cannabis use is common in patients with psychosis, often for similar reasons as the general population. Understanding these reasons is key to improving treatment and recovery for individuals with psychotic disorders.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Neuroscience
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- High rates of substance use, particularly cannabis, are observed in patients with psychosis.
- Cannabis use in this population is significantly higher than in the general population.
- Persistent cannabis use negatively impacts prognosis and recovery for individuals with psychotic disorders.
Observation:
- Patients with psychosis report using cannabis for reasons similar to the general population.
- Commonly reported reasons include seeking euphoria ('getting high') and alleviating negative emotional states like depression and boredom.
- This series examines five individual cases of patients with psychosis who report cannabis use.
Findings:
- Detailed clinical assessments were performed for each patient.
- Cannabis use history, including patterns and duration, was documented.
- Specific reasons for continued cannabis consumption were explored for each case.
Implications:
- Understanding patient-reported motivations for cannabis use is crucial.
- Tailoring treatment strategies based on individual reasons for use may improve outcomes.
- Effective interventions require addressing both psychosis symptoms and substance use patterns.
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