Cannabis use did not predict negative beliefs about antipsychotic medications
Among 265 patients with first-treatment psychosis, cannabis use was not associated with negative beliefs about antipsychotic medications, suggesting other factors explain poor medication adherence in cannabis-using patients.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Neither lifetime cannabis use, current use, nor cannabis abuse diagnosis was associated with negative beliefs about medicines as measured by the BMQ questionnaire. However, patients with lifetime cannabis use were more likely to be male, younger at psychosis onset, and have higher alcohol and tobacco use.
Key Numbers
265 first-treatment psychosis patients. Cannabis users were younger at onset, more likely male, higher alcohol and tobacco use. No significant association between any cannabis measure and BMQ scores.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional study of 265 patients with first-treatment schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Cannabis use assessed across three measures (lifetime, current, abuse/addiction). Medication beliefs measured using the validated Beliefs about Medication Questionnaire (BMQ). GLM analyses controlled for age and sex.
Why This Research Matters
Cannabis use predicts poor medication adherence in psychosis patients. If not through negative medication beliefs, clinicians need to identify the actual barriers to compliance in cannabis-using patients.
The Bigger Picture
The null finding is informative: it redirects the search for why cannabis-using psychosis patients have poor medication adherence toward other mechanisms like forgetting, side effect sensitivity, or competing priorities.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design. Self-reported cannabis use. BMQ may not capture all dimensions of medication attitudes relevant to this population.
Questions This Raises
- ?If not beliefs, what drives poor medication adherence in cannabis-using psychosis patients?
- ?Could intoxication-related forgetting or lifestyle factors be more important?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- No association between cannabis use and negative medication beliefs
- Evidence Grade:
- Well-designed clinical study with validated instruments, though cross-sectional design limits causal inference.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022.
- Original Title:
- Lifetime Cannabis Use Is Not Associated With Negative Beliefs About Medication in Patients With First Treatment Psychosis.
- Published In:
- Frontiers in psychiatry, 13, 824051 (2022)
- Authors:
- Gjerde, Priyanthi B, Steen, Synne W, Vedal, Trude S J, Steen, Nils Eiel, Reponen, Elina J, Andreassen, Ole A, Steen, Vidar M, Melle, Ingrid
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03875
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Do cannabis-using psychosis patients dislike their medications more?
No. This study found no link between cannabis use and negative beliefs about antipsychotic medications, despite cannabis use being known to predict poor medication adherence in this population.
Why do cannabis-using patients still have worse adherence?
The study suggests other factors beyond medication beliefs drive poor adherence in cannabis users with psychosis, such as lifestyle factors, cognitive effects of cannabis, or competing priorities.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03875APA
Gjerde, Priyanthi B; Steen, Synne W; Vedal, Trude S J; Steen, Nils Eiel; Reponen, Elina J; Andreassen, Ole A; Steen, Vidar M; Melle, Ingrid. (2022). Lifetime Cannabis Use Is Not Associated With Negative Beliefs About Medication in Patients With First Treatment Psychosis.. Frontiers in psychiatry, 13, 824051. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.824051
MLA
Gjerde, Priyanthi B, et al. "Lifetime Cannabis Use Is Not Associated With Negative Beliefs About Medication in Patients With First Treatment Psychosis.." Frontiers in psychiatry, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.824051
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Lifetime Cannabis Use Is Not Associated With Negative Belief..." RTHC-03875. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/gjerde-2022-lifetime-cannabis-use-is
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.