V. Orlandi, G. Bersani - Vol. 7, Settembre 2001, num.3
Testo Immagini Bibliografia Summary Riassunto Indice
Assunzione di cannabis e schizofrenia:
rapporto con esordio, decorso e psicopatologia
Cannabis and schizophrenia: relationships with onset, clinical course and
psychopathology
The increasing prevalence of cannabis assumption in schizophrenia raised scientific interest in the role that this drug may play on aetiology, course, psychopathology and outcome of schizophrenia. Aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of cannabis use in a sample of 125 chronic schizophrenic patients and its impact on the above-mentioned variables, also taking into account the intensity of assumption, the possibility of a polysubstance abuse and the temporality of association between the two disorders. Clinical characteristics of the sample were evaluated with SANS, SAPS, PANSS and BPRS. Cannabis consumption was found in 54 subjects (43%), 66.7% of whom started at least three years before the onset of schizophrenia. Consumers were younger and with less negative symptomatology, specially abusers and polysubstance consumers. Familial occurrence of psychosis was higher in consumers, especially when assumption started before schizophrenic onset. Our subjects might be divided into two main groups, one that uses substances to counter distressing symptoms of schizophrenia and another in which cannabis might be one of the factors predisposing to the disease, supporting heterogeneity of the disease and genetic susceptibility to environmental agents.