23% of Cannabis Use Disorder Patients Were Readmitted Within 15 Years, With Psychosis and Low Education as Top Risk Factors
In a 15-year Swedish cohort of 12,143 people with cannabis use disorder, 23% were readmitted, with schizophrenia (54% higher risk), low education (40% higher risk), and ages 18-35 being the strongest predictors.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
About 80% of CUD visits were outpatient. 23% of individuals were readmitted during follow-up. Fully adjusted risks: schizophrenia and psychotic disorders (HR 1.54), low education (HR 1.40), personality disorders (HR 1.27), mood disorders (HR 1.27). Risk was highest in ages 18-35. Flexible parametric modeling showed the age-specific risk pattern.
Key Numbers
12,143 individuals. 23% readmitted. ~80% outpatient visits. Schizophrenia: HR 1.54. Low education: HR 1.40. Personality disorders: HR 1.27. Mood disorders: HR 1.27. Highest risk: ages 18-35.
How They Did This
Nationwide Swedish cohort study (2001-2016) of 12,143 individuals aged 17+ with CUD. Predictors from national registers: education, income, psychiatric comorbidity. Cox and flexible parametric survival analyses.
Why This Research Matters
Nearly 1 in 4 people with CUD were readmitted to care, highlighting the chronic and relapsing nature of the condition. The strong association with psychotic disorders and low education points to specific subgroups that need more intensive or tailored treatment.
The Bigger Picture
The finding that low education is as strong a predictor as psychiatric comorbidity suggests socioeconomic factors play a major role in CUD treatment outcomes. Addressing social determinants alongside psychiatric treatment could improve outcomes.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Swedish healthcare system may differ from other countries. CUD identified through healthcare contacts, missing those who do not seek treatment. Cannot determine cannabis use patterns or severity. Readmission may reflect treatment access rather than relapse.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would addressing educational and socioeconomic factors reduce CUD readmission rates?
- ?Should CUD patients with comorbid psychosis receive integrated dual-diagnosis treatment from the start?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 23% of CUD patients readmitted; schizophrenia and low education were top risk factors
- Evidence Grade:
- Nationwide register-based cohort with 15-year follow-up and flexible survival models, providing strong epidemiological evidence.
- Study Age:
- Published 2023, using 2001-2016 Swedish register data.
- Original Title:
- Risk of readmission among individuals with cannabis use disorder during a 15-year cohort study: the impact of socio-economic factors and psychiatric comorbidity.
- Published In:
- Addiction (Abingdon, England), 118(7), 1295-1306 (2023)
- Authors:
- Rabiee, Rynaz(2), Sjöqvist, Hugo, Agardh, Emilie(2), Lundin, Andreas, Danielsson, Anna-Karin
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04859
Evidence Hierarchy
Follows a group of people over time to track how outcomes develop.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How often do people with cannabis use disorder relapse?
In this Swedish study, 23% of people with CUD were readmitted to care over 15 years. The risk was highest for those with co-occurring psychosis, low education, and ages 18-35.
What predicts worse CUD outcomes?
Schizophrenia (54% higher readmission risk), low education (40% higher), personality disorders (27% higher), and mood disorders (27% higher) were the strongest predictors.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04859APA
Rabiee, Rynaz; Sjöqvist, Hugo; Agardh, Emilie; Lundin, Andreas; Danielsson, Anna-Karin. (2023). Risk of readmission among individuals with cannabis use disorder during a 15-year cohort study: the impact of socio-economic factors and psychiatric comorbidity.. Addiction (Abingdon, England), 118(7), 1295-1306. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16158
MLA
Rabiee, Rynaz, et al. "Risk of readmission among individuals with cannabis use disorder during a 15-year cohort study: the impact of socio-economic factors and psychiatric comorbidity.." Addiction (Abingdon, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16158
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Risk of readmission among individuals with cannabis use diso..." RTHC-04859. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/rabiee-2023-risk-of-readmission-among
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.