Cannabis-induced psychosis resolved steadily over one month after stopping use
In 56 patients admitted with cannabis-induced psychosis, positive symptoms like hostility and grandiosity dominated the presentation and showed steady improvement over one month after cannabis cessation.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Cannabis-induced psychotic disorder presented primarily with positive symptoms (hostility, excitement, grandiosity) and minimal affective symptoms. Both positive and negative symptoms showed significant improvement after one week in hospital and one month post-discharge with cannabis cessation.
Key Numbers
56 male patients, mean age 22.2 years. Predominant positive symptoms: hostility, excitement, grandiosity. Total duration of cannabis use and family history of substance use correlated with severity. Significant symptom improvement at both 1-week and 1-month follow-ups.
How They Did This
Prospective cohort study of 56 male patients admitted with new-onset psychosis and cannabis use at a tertiary care hospital in Kerala, India (January-June 2019). Assessed at admission, 1 week, and 1 month using PANSS and CGI-S.
Why This Research Matters
Understanding the symptom profile and recovery trajectory of cannabis-induced psychosis helps clinicians distinguish it from primary psychotic disorders and set appropriate treatment expectations.
The Bigger Picture
The distinction between cannabis-induced psychosis and the onset of primary psychotic disorders like schizophrenia remains clinically challenging. Steady improvement after cannabis cessation supports a substance-induced diagnosis, but some patients will later meet criteria for a primary disorder.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
All-male sample limits generalizability. Single center in India. No long-term follow-up to assess relapse or transition to primary psychotic disorder. No comparison group of non-cannabis psychosis patients. Relatively small sample.
Questions This Raises
- ?What percentage of cannabis-induced psychosis patients later develop a primary psychotic disorder?
- ?Are there early markers that distinguish reversible cannabis-induced psychosis from the onset of schizophrenia?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 56 patients, mean age 22; steady symptom improvement over 1 month after stopping cannabis
- Evidence Grade:
- Small prospective cohort without a comparison group. Useful for describing symptom trajectory but limited generalizability.
- Study Age:
- Published 2023. Data from January-June 2019.
- Original Title:
- Psychopathology and Pattern of Remission of Cannabis-Induced Psychotic Disorder.
- Published In:
- The primary care companion for CNS disorders, 25(2) (2023)
- Authors:
- Suresh, P N, Menon, Vikas, Suresh, Rohith, Uvais, N A
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04971
Evidence Hierarchy
Enrolls participants and follows them forward in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis-induced psychosis go away?
In this study, yes. Patients who stopped using cannabis showed steady improvement in psychotic symptoms over one month. However, some people who experience cannabis-induced psychosis eventually develop a primary psychotic disorder, and this study did not follow patients long enough to assess that risk.
What does cannabis-induced psychosis look like?
In this Indian sample, the dominant symptoms were hostility, excitement, and grandiosity (positive symptoms) with relatively few mood symptoms. This is somewhat different from primary schizophrenia, which typically shows more negative symptoms early on.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04971APA
Suresh, P N; Menon, Vikas; Suresh, Rohith; Uvais, N A. (2023). Psychopathology and Pattern of Remission of Cannabis-Induced Psychotic Disorder.. The primary care companion for CNS disorders, 25(2). https://doi.org/10.4088/PCC.22m03350
MLA
Suresh, P N, et al. "Psychopathology and Pattern of Remission of Cannabis-Induced Psychotic Disorder.." The primary care companion for CNS disorders, 2023. https://doi.org/10.4088/PCC.22m03350
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Psychopathology and Pattern of Remission of Cannabis-Induced..." RTHC-04971. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/suresh-2023-psychopathology-and-pattern-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.