title: Reasons for cannabis use in psychosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the reasons for cannabis use among individuals with psychotic disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-nine people with psychotic disorders in treatment with community health centres in Northern Sydney were interviewed to collect information about their experience of antipsychotic side-effects and their influence on cannabis use. Other information collected on cannabis use included: amount and frequency, effects of use and other general reasons given for use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was found that boredom, social motives, improving sleep, anxiety and agitation and symptoms associated with negative psychotic symptoms or depression were the most important motivators of cannabis use. Positive symptoms of psychosis and antipsychotic side-effects that were not associated with anxiety, were not important motivators of cannabis use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As cannabis use may precipitate relapse in this population, it is important to reduce these motivators of use. Clinician's must assess and treat these problems, thus reducing the need for patients to self-medicate with cannabis, and therefore reducing the risk of relapse.
authors.affiliation: University of Sydney, Psychological Medicine, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia. dschofie@nsccahs.health.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schofield
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tennant
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nash
authors.forename: Louisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Degenhardt
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cornish
authors.forename: Coletta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hobbs
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brennan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D012008:Recurrence; D012651:Self Medication; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D013287:Illicit Drugs