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Cannabis Use and Psychiatric Disorders: Implications for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment

  • Cannabis (F Filby, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose

Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug with high prevalence, especially in adolescent and psychiatric populations. Cannabis use disorder is associated with cognitive and psychosocial impairment, and the therapeutic potential of cannabis is unsupported by high-quality evidence. Importantly, cannabis use may lead to the development of psychiatric and substance use disorders and to poorer outcomes in the mentally ill. This article discusses the epidemiology and neurobiology of cannabis use and the assessment and treatment of cannabis use disorder, in mental health and addiction settings.

Findings

Evidence suggests that cannabis use has negative effects in patients with major psychiatric disorders. It is critical to better understand the endocannabinoid system and its links with mental illness.

Conclusions

Future studies should determine the potential impact of cannabis legalization on people at risk for, or with pre-existing psychiatric disorders and addictions, as well as the development of novel and more effective treatments for co-occurring cannabis use.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) grant MOP no. 115145 (to TPG) and Brain and Behavior Research Young Investigator Award (to MSB) and a Science Without Borders (SWB) scholarship grant no. 211629/2014-6 (to MPH) from the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, Brazil).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Sao Paulo-Ribeirao Preto Medical School, Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil

    Mariana P. Halah

  2. Addictions Division, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 100 Stokes Street, BGB 3288, Toronto, ON, M6J 1H4, Canada

    Michelle P. Zochniak, Mera S. Barr & Tony P. George

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Division of Brain and Therapeutics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Mera S. Barr & Tony P. George

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  1. Mariana P. Halah
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Correspondence to Tony P. George.

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Mariana P. Halah, Michelle P. Zochniak, Dr. Mera S. Barr, and Dr. Tony P. George declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Halah, M.P., Zochniak, M.P., Barr, M.S. et al. Cannabis Use and Psychiatric Disorders: Implications for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment. Curr Addict Rep 3, 450–462 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-016-0128-5

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