Citation

Ricci V, Ceci F, Di Carlo F, Di Muzio I, Ciavoni L, Santangelo M, Di Salvo G, Pettorruso M, Martinotti G, Maina G. Psychiatry Res. 2023; 320: e115053.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115053

PMID

36682093

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Natural Cannabis (NC) and Synthetic Cannabinoids (SCs) use can increase the risk of developing psychotic disorders and exacerbate their course. AIMS: To examine the differences between psychoses not associated with cannabis use and those associated with NC and SCs use, evaluating psychotic symptoms, global functioning, dissociative symptoms and suicidal ideation.

METHODS: The sample of 61 patients with First Episode Psychosis (FEP) was divided into 3 groups: non-Cannabis users (non-users, N = 20); NC users (THC-users, N = 21); SCs users (SPICE-users, N = 20). Each group was assessed at FEP and after 3 and 9 months through specific psychopathological scales.

RESULTS: THC-users, and even more SPICE-users, displayed much more severe positive symptoms than non-users. Negative symptoms were higher among non-users. After 9 months the non-users had recovered significantly better than SPICE-users in their global functioning. Dissociative symptoms were significantly greater in substance users. Finally, suicidal ideation was higher in SPICE-users than in both THC-users and non-users.

DISCUSSION: The psychoses induced by NC and SCs showed different symptomatic pictures and outcomes from each other and when compared to the psychoses not associated with the use of substances; such knowledge could be relevant in identifying a specific drug treatment.

Language: en

Keywords

Suicide; Antipsychotic treatment; Dissociation; Psychotic onset; Psychotic symptoms; Substances use; Synthetic psychosis