Cannabis use in a large sample of acute psychiatric admissions.
A sample of 908 patients drawn from two London Psychiatric Hospitals is described in terms of age, sex, self-reported drug and alcohol history, drug urinalysis results and initial psychiatric diagnosis. Some (34.5%) of respondents admitted to using cannabis at least once in their lifetime and 13% of those tested had urines positive for cannabis on admission. Cannabis use is commoner in young males. These is a higher likelihood that an initial diagnosis of 'psychosis' will be made at admission if patients either report use of cannabis or present a urine sample positive for cannabis.
Mathers
D C
DC
Department of Addictive Behaviour, St George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK.
Ghodse
A H
AH
Caan
A W
AW
Scott
S A
SA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011605:Psychoses, Substance-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology*
D002186:Cannabinoids