Cannabis use disorder nearly tripled the odds of needing intensive psychiatric outreach in Lebanon
Among patients with psychosis in Lebanon, those with comorbid cannabis use disorder had 2.83 times the odds of being enrolled in an assertive outreach program, indicating more severe illness requiring intensive follow-up.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Cannabis use disorder was a significant predictor of enrollment in the Psychosis Recovery Outreach Program (OR 2.83, 95% CI 1.25-6.37). Other predictors included being prescribed long-acting injectable antipsychotics (OR 9.99), multiple oral antipsychotics (OR 4.57), multiple ER visits (OR 8.7), and psychiatric admission (OR 13.91).
Key Numbers
45 PROP patients. 77.8% male. 80% under 39 years. 22.7% had comorbid cannabis use disorder. 46.7% schizophrenia, 48.9% schizoaffective disorder. Cannabis use disorder OR 2.83 for program enrollment.
How They Did This
Retrospective analysis of 45 patients enrolled in the Psychosis Recovery Outreach Program at a psychiatric facility in Lebanon. Logistic regression identified predictors of enrollment compared to patients receiving standard treatment. Twelve-month data collected.
Why This Research Matters
Cannabis use disorder alongside psychosis signals a more severe clinical course requiring intensive treatment. This confirms in a non-Western setting what has been observed elsewhere.
The Bigger Picture
The finding that cannabis use disorder predicts need for intensive psychiatric outreach replicates Western findings in a Middle Eastern context, suggesting this relationship is not culturally specific.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Small sample (45 patients). Single facility in Lebanon. Retrospective design. Enrollment in outreach program is a proxy for severity, not a direct outcome measure. Selection bias possible.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does treating cannabis use disorder improve psychosis outcomes in this population?
- ?Would similar results emerge in other non-Western psychiatric settings?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Cannabis use disorder: 2.83x odds of needing intensive outreach
- Evidence Grade:
- Small retrospective study from a single facility, but significant odds ratios and novel non-Western context.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022.
- Original Title:
- Predictors of admission to an assertive outreach service for psychosis in Lebanon.
- Published In:
- PLOS global public health, 2(12), e0001428 (2022)
- Authors:
- Kassir, Ghida, El Hayek, Samer(2), Charara, Raghid, Cherro, Michele, Itani, Hala, El Khoury, Joseph
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03946
Evidence Hierarchy
Looks back at existing records to find patterns.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis use make psychosis worse?
In this Lebanese study, patients with psychosis and cannabis use disorder were nearly three times more likely to need intensive outreach treatment, suggesting more severe illness requiring closer follow-up.
Is the cannabis-psychosis link seen outside Western countries?
Yes. This study from Lebanon found cannabis use disorder was a significant predictor of more severe psychosis requiring intensive treatment, consistent with findings from Western countries.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03946APA
Kassir, Ghida; El Hayek, Samer; Charara, Raghid; Cherro, Michele; Itani, Hala; El Khoury, Joseph. (2022). Predictors of admission to an assertive outreach service for psychosis in Lebanon.. PLOS global public health, 2(12), e0001428. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0001428
MLA
Kassir, Ghida, et al. "Predictors of admission to an assertive outreach service for psychosis in Lebanon.." PLOS global public health, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0001428
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Predictors of admission to an assertive outreach service for..." RTHC-03946. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/kassir-2022-predictors-of-admission-to
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.