Cannabis Plus Tobacco Was the Most Complicated Substance Pattern in Hospitalized Psychosis Patients
Among 829 hospitalized psychosis patients, those with both cannabis and tobacco use disorders had the highest rates of additional alcohol and stimulant use disorders.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Patients with both cannabis and tobacco use disorders (CUD + TUD) had significantly higher odds of also having alcohol and stimulant use disorders compared to patients with neither. Stimulant and polysubstance use disorder diagnoses were associated with tobacco use disorder. More prescribed psychotropic medications was linked to tobacco use disorder.
Key Numbers
829 patients with psychotic-spectrum disorders. Four groups: cannabis use disorder only, tobacco use disorder only, both, and neither. Age and gender varied significantly across groups.
How They Did This
Retrospective analysis of electronic medical records from 829 patients with psychotic-spectrum disorders admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Patients were categorized into four groups based on cannabis and/or tobacco use disorder. Multinomial logistic regression compared groups controlling for age and sex.
Why This Research Matters
Tobacco and cannabis are the most commonly used substances among people with psychosis. Understanding how these use patterns cluster with other substance use and clinical characteristics can help clinicians screen more effectively and tailor treatment during hospitalization.
The Bigger Picture
Substance use in psychosis is the rule rather than the exception. This study highlights that cannabis and tobacco use rarely occur in isolation - they tend to co-occur with each other and with other substance use disorders, complicating treatment.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Retrospective chart review at a single hospital. Diagnoses depended on clinical documentation quality. Cross-sectional snapshot during hospitalization. Age differences between groups may account for some findings.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does treating one substance use disorder in psychosis patients help reduce others?
- ?Would integrated treatment for multiple substances be more effective than targeting them individually?
- ?How do these comorbidity patterns affect treatment outcomes?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Alcohol and stimulant use disorder diagnoses each predicted having both cannabis and tobacco use disorders in psychosis patients.
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate - large sample from a psychiatric hospital with appropriate statistical methods, but retrospective and single-site.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2018.
- Original Title:
- Comorbid Cannabis and Tobacco Use Disorders in Hospitalized Patients with Psychotic-Spectrum Disorders.
- Published In:
- Journal of dual diagnosis, 14(3), 171-180 (2018)
- Authors:
- Reeves, Lauren E, Gaudiano, Brandon A, Metrik, Jane(16), Guzman Holst, Carolina, Morena, Alexandra, Sydnor, Valerie J, Weinstock, Lauren M, Epstein-Lubow, Gary
- Database ID:
- RTHC-01808
Evidence Hierarchy
Looks back at existing records to find patterns.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How common is substance use in people with psychosis?
Very common. This study of 829 hospitalized psychosis patients found that cannabis and tobacco use disorders frequently co-occurred with each other and with alcohol and stimulant use disorders.
Do cannabis and tobacco use tend to go together in psychosis?
Yes. This study identified a distinct group of psychosis patients with both cannabis and tobacco use disorders who had the most complex substance use profiles, including higher rates of alcohol and stimulant problems.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-01808APA
Reeves, Lauren E; Gaudiano, Brandon A; Metrik, Jane; Guzman Holst, Carolina; Morena, Alexandra; Sydnor, Valerie J; Weinstock, Lauren M; Epstein-Lubow, Gary. (2018). Comorbid Cannabis and Tobacco Use Disorders in Hospitalized Patients with Psychotic-Spectrum Disorders.. Journal of dual diagnosis, 14(3), 171-180. https://doi.org/10.1080/15504263.2018.1470359
MLA
Reeves, Lauren E, et al. "Comorbid Cannabis and Tobacco Use Disorders in Hospitalized Patients with Psychotic-Spectrum Disorders.." Journal of dual diagnosis, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1080/15504263.2018.1470359
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Comorbid Cannabis and Tobacco Use Disorders in Hospitalized ..." RTHC-01808. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/reeves-2018-comorbid-cannabis-and-tobacco
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.