Chronic cannabis use and the sense of coherence

Chronic cannabis users undergoing therapy were tested using the Sense of Coherence scale to determine the extent to which patients showed improvements in perceived comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness of life. Improvement was demonstrated between admission and the completion of therapy six weeks later. Post-treatment scores were in the range of control subjects. Users who had quit using cannabis for more than 40 days at admission, but who had not participated in therapy, had somewhat higher scores than those who had quit for 17 days or less at admission. Patients in a methadone treatment program had scores below norms and did not show improvement during treatment. Poly-drug abusers, who had undergone psychosocial treatment, had scores somewhat below normative scores. Improvement in chronic cannabis users is discussed in the context of cognitive and psychosocial problems associated with chronic cannabis use.