TITLE:
Cannabis and Psychosis: A Review of the Risk Factors Involved
AUTHORS:
Mohamed Ben Amar
KEYWORDS:
Cannabis, Marijuana, Hashish, Psychosis, Schizophrenia, Risk Factors
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.11 No.12,
December
14,
2020
ABSTRACT: Abundant literature suggests the hypothesis that
cannabis use leads to the onset of psychotic symptoms. However, the nature of
the association and the causal link remain controversial. This review aims to
identify the risk factors involved in the etiopathogenesis of psychosis or
psychotic features. Our electronic search found 1653 studies published until
March 1st 2020. Longitudinal studies and literature reviews were
selected if they addressed specifically the issues of the cannabis/psychosis
relationship and the eventual risk factors involved. Our systematic review
identified six potential risk factors involved in the association. They are, in
decreasing importance, the dose-response relationship (quantity, frequency and
duration of cannabis use), the early age of cannabis consumption, genetic
susceptibility, childhood trauma, cigarette smoking and urban environment. In
contrast, a significant inverse relationship exists between cannabidiol (CBD)
and psychosis: cannabidiol is associated with less psychotic symptoms and
manifests antipsychotic properties. Further studies are needed to establish a
clear causal relationship between cannabis and psychosis and to identify the
qualitative and quantitative contribution of specific risk factors on its onset
and sustainability.