Review article

https://doi.org/10.24869/psyd.2023.307

CANNABIS USE AND SUICIDE IN NON-AFFECTIVE PSYCHOSIS: A MINI-REVIEW OF RECENT LITERATURE

Valerio Ricci orcid.org/0000-0003-1717-2530 ; San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, 10043 Orbassano, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole, Italy
Enrico Cristofori ; Department of Neurosciences “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of Turin; Italy
Erica Passarello ; Department of Neurosciences “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of Turin; Italy
Andrea Paggi ; Department of Neurosciences “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of Turin; Italy
Alex Cavallo ; Department of Neurosciences “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of Turin; Italy
Franca Ceci ; Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi G. D’Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Italy;
Giovanni Martinotti ; Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi G. D’Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Italy;
Domenico De Berardis ; NHS, Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Service for Diagnosis and Treatment, Hospital “G. Mazzini”, Italy;
Giuseppe Maina ; San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, 10043 Orbassano, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole, Italy ; Department of Neurosciences “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of Turin; Italy

Abstract

Proof of correlation between psychotic spectrum disorders and suicide are found in literature, as well as between cannabis use
disorder (CUD) and suicide and between CUD and schizophrenia. The study population of the selected papers consists of subjects
diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum or cannabis or SCs induced psychosis. Our objective is to assess how suicide risk (defined as
suicidal ideation/attempt or death by suicide) in this population may vary with exposure to cannabis or one of its main active compounds.
We searched PubMed, Scopus and Psycinfo database from January 2010 to February 2022. Study designs of the included
articles are distributed as follows: 6 cross-sectional studies, 3 cohort studies, 1 case-control studies, 1 randomized double-blind study,
1 case report. Selected cohort studies seem to agree in identifying an increased suicide risk in patients with schizophrenia spectrum
disorders when exposed to cannabis use.
The case-control study and selected cross-sectionals provide contradictory data. However, qualitative analysis seem to point
toward a positive correlation between cannabis use and increased suicidal risk in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. In
conclusion, emerging data on the correlation between cannabis use and suicide risk in patients with schizophrenia or other schizophrenic
spectrum disorders are insufficient to draw firm conclusions. Nonetheless these studies seem to suggest a positive correlation
of cannabis use with increased suicide risk, particularly regarding first episode psychosis (FEP) and male gender. Clinicians should
be aware of the possibility of a higher risk of suicidal behavior associated specifically with cannabis use for men and patients during
FEP.

Keywords

cannabis; schizophrenia; non-affective psychosis; suicide; suicide risk; first episode psychosis

Hrčak ID:

310640

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/310640

Publication date:

25.10.2023.

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