A case of cannabis hyperemesis syndrome developing in a psychiatric inpatient admitted for drug-induced psychosis highlights the challenge of recognizing CHS when patients have multiple cannabis-related conditions.
Psychiatrists, emergency physicians, gastroenterologists, and heavy cannabis users experiencing unexplained vomiting
What the researchers found
A young male admitted for drug-induced psychosis developed cyclical vomiting consistent with cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, demonstrating that CHS can coexist with and complicate other cannabis-related psychiatric conditions.
Why it matters
CHS is frequently misdiagnosed, especially in psychiatric settings where cannabis-related symptoms may be attributed to other causes — recognizing the overlap between CHS and cannabis psychosis improves patient care.
The numbers in context
Single case of a young male with long-term cannabis use, recurrent ED presentations, and weight loss from cyclical vomiting while admitted for drug-induced psychosis.
How the study worked
Psychiatric case report with literature review, documenting CHS presentation in an inpatient psychiatric setting with recurrent emergency department presentations, weight loss, and medical complications.
What this study cannot tell us
Single case report; CHS diagnosis is clinical and lacks specific biomarkers; psychiatric comorbidities may confound symptom attribution.
How to read the evidence
Single case report with literature review provides limited evidence but illustrates an important clinical scenario.
When this study was published
Published in 2026, reflecting growing clinical awareness of CHS and its overlap with other cannabis-related conditions.
The bigger picture
As cannabis use intensifies, clinicians across all specialties need to consider CHS in the differential — it's no longer just a GI diagnosis but can emerge alongside psychiatric cannabis complications.
Questions still open
- How common is CHS co-occurrence with cannabis-induced psychosis? Should CHS screening be routine in psychiatric admissions for cannabis-related conditions?
Common questions
Can cannabis cause both psychosis and vomiting?
Why is cannabis hyperemesis syndrome hard to diagnose?
Read the original research
Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome: A Psychiatric Approach.
Cureus, 18(1), e102152
Citation
Anibueze, Bibian K; Emmanuel, Adebayo. (2026). Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome: A Psychiatric Approach.. Cureus, 18(1), e102152. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.102152