Cannabis Use May Worsen Metabolic Problems in Psychosis Patients Already at Risk
While cannabis acutely increases appetite and weight, its long-term metabolic effects in psychosis patients are unclear, with one study finding increased weight and blood glucose in cannabis-using patients.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
This narrative review examined how cannabis use might affect metabolic health in people with psychosis, a population already at elevated risk for cardiovascular and metabolic disease.
In the general population, cannabis's short-term appetite-stimulating effects through the endocannabinoid system are well documented. However, the long-term metabolic effects of chronic cannabis use remain unclear, with conflicting results from the few studies conducted.
In patients with psychosis specifically, only one study had examined this question at the time of the review. That study found cannabis use was associated with increased body weight and blood glucose levels, suggesting cannabis may compound the metabolic risks already elevated in this population (due to both the illness itself and antipsychotic medications).
The authors noted that psychosis patients already have reduced life expectancy partly due to metabolic and cardiovascular disease, and cannabis use could be an additional contributing factor.
Key Numbers
One study in psychosis patients found cannabis use associated with increased body weight and blood glucose. Psychosis patients have reduced life expectancy partly due to metabolic/cardiovascular disease.
How They Did This
Narrative review of the literature on cannabis effects on appetite, weight, and metabolic parameters in both the general population and patients with psychosis.
Why This Research Matters
People with psychosis have higher rates of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Understanding whether cannabis use adds to these risks is important for clinical care, especially since cannabis use is common in this population.
The Bigger Picture
This review highlighted a gap in the literature: despite high rates of cannabis use among psychosis patients and well-known metabolic risks in this population, very little research had directly examined the metabolic impact of cannabis use specifically in psychosis patients.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Only one study directly examined cannabis metabolic effects in psychosis patients at the time of review. The general population evidence on long-term cannabis metabolic effects was conflicting. The narrative review format did not systematically assess evidence quality.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does chronic cannabis use meaningfully worsen metabolic outcomes in psychosis patients beyond what antipsychotics cause?
- ?Should metabolic monitoring be intensified for cannabis-using psychosis patients?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- One study found cannabis increased weight and blood glucose in psychosis patients
- Evidence Grade:
- This is a narrative review with very limited direct evidence (one study) on the specific question of cannabis metabolic effects in psychosis patients.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2008. Some subsequent large epidemiological studies have paradoxically found lower rates of obesity and diabetes in cannabis users in the general population, adding complexity to this question.
- Original Title:
- The metabolic implications of long term cannabis use in patients with psychosis.
- Published In:
- Epidemiologia e psichiatria sociale, 17(3), 221-6 (2008)
- Authors:
- Mushtaq, Farrah, Mondelli, Valeria(2), Pariante, Carmine M
- Database ID:
- RTHC-00321
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research on a topic.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis make you gain weight?
Cannabis acutely increases appetite (the "munchies"), but the long-term effect on weight is unclear. In the general population, some studies find cannabis users are actually less likely to be obese, which is paradoxical. In psychosis patients, the one available study found increased weight.
Why are psychosis patients at higher metabolic risk?
Several factors contribute: antipsychotic medications often cause weight gain and metabolic changes, the illness itself affects stress hormones and activity levels, and lifestyle factors like diet and exercise may be affected by psychiatric symptoms.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-00321APA
Mushtaq, Farrah; Mondelli, Valeria; Pariante, Carmine M. (2008). The metabolic implications of long term cannabis use in patients with psychosis.. Epidemiologia e psichiatria sociale, 17(3), 221-6.
MLA
Mushtaq, Farrah, et al. "The metabolic implications of long term cannabis use in patients with psychosis.." Epidemiologia e psichiatria sociale, 2008.
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "The metabolic implications of long term cannabis use in pati..." RTHC-00321. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/mushtaq-2008-the-metabolic-implications-of
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.