Nearly Half of Psychosis Patients in South Africa Used Cannabis
Among 370 psychiatric inpatients in South Africa, 48.9% reported current cannabis use and 51.1% lifetime use, with cannabis use associated with more frequent hospital readmissions.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Current cannabis use was 48.9% and lifetime use 51.1%. Males had nearly 5x higher odds of current cannabis use (OR=4.90) and 6x higher for lifetime use (OR=6.27). Current alcohol use was associated with cannabis use (OR=3.06). Being 45+ was protective (OR=0.30). Cannabis use was associated with more readmissions (P=0.01), with 48% admitted 3+ times.
Key Numbers
370 records; 48.9% current use; 51.1% lifetime; male OR 4.90 (current), 6.27 (lifetime); alcohol co-use OR 3.06; 48% admitted 3+ times
How They Did This
Retrospective review of 370 clinical records of patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Durban, South Africa, from June 2018 to June 2020.
Why This Research Matters
Nearly half of psychosis inpatients in this setting used cannabis, yet dual diagnosis treatment programs are lacking. This prevalence has direct implications for how psychiatric services should be structured.
The Bigger Picture
The very high prevalence of cannabis use among psychosis patients in this South African setting mirrors findings from high-income countries, suggesting this is a global clinical challenge requiring integrated treatment approaches.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Retrospective chart review dependent on accuracy of clinical records. Single-center study in KwaZulu-Natal may not represent all South African psychiatric populations.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would integrated dual diagnosis programs reduce readmission rates?
- ?How does cannabis potency and availability in South Africa compare to settings where similar rates have been reported?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 48.9% current cannabis use among psychosis inpatients
- Evidence Grade:
- Retrospective chart review from a single center, providing clear prevalence data but limited by clinical record accuracy.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022
- Original Title:
- Prevalence of cannabis use in people with psychosis in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
- Published In:
- The South African journal of psychiatry : SAJP : the journal of the Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa, 28, 1927 (2022)
- Authors:
- Mona, Khanya, Ntlantsana, Vuyokazi(2), Tomita, Andrew M, Paruk, Saeeda
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04073
Evidence Hierarchy
Looks back at existing records to find patterns.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How common is cannabis use among people with psychosis?
In this South African psychiatric hospital, 48.9% of patients with psychotic disorders had current cannabis use and 51.1% had lifetime use, with males far more likely to use.
Does cannabis use affect psychosis hospital readmissions?
Yes. Cannabis use was significantly associated with readmission (P=0.01), and 48% of the sample had been admitted 3 or more times.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04073APA
Mona, Khanya; Ntlantsana, Vuyokazi; Tomita, Andrew M; Paruk, Saeeda. (2022). Prevalence of cannabis use in people with psychosis in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.. The South African journal of psychiatry : SAJP : the journal of the Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa, 28, 1927. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v28i0.1927
MLA
Mona, Khanya, et al. "Prevalence of cannabis use in people with psychosis in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.." The South African journal of psychiatry : SAJP : the journal of the Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa, 2022. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v28i0.1927
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Prevalence of cannabis use in people with psychosis in KwaZu..." RTHC-04073. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/mona-2022-prevalence-of-cannabis-use
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.