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Cannabis: A Clue or a Distraction in the Search for ‘Causes’ of Psychosis?

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Advances in Schizophrenia Research 2009

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Abstract

Has cannabis been a distraction for the process of finding causes for schizophrenia or has it been a useful clue along the path to discovery? Good science is all about looking for clues, going down various pathways and then backing out if we come to a dead end. Sometimes we realize we have taken a wrong path in time to change directions quickly. Often it takes decades before we learn of our mistakes. However, it is important to note that regardless of what future researchers think about cannabis as a risk factor for psychosis, setting up and rejecting hypotheses is a defining feature of the scientific process. Rejecting a hypothesis is not an occasion for derision or hubristic scorn.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental Health, 4076, Wacol, QLD, Australia

    John McGrath

  2. National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    Louisa Degenhardt

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  1. John McGrath
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  2. Louisa Degenhardt
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Correspondence to John McGrath .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Fac. Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua Ovídio Pires Campos 785, Sao Paulo, 05403-903, Brazil

    Wagner F. Gattaz

  2. Fac. Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua Ovídio Pires Campos 785, Sao Paulo, 05403-903, Brazil

    Geraldo Busatto

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McGrath, J., Degenhardt, L. (2010). Cannabis: A Clue or a Distraction in the Search for ‘Causes’ of Psychosis?. In: Gattaz, W., Busatto, G. (eds) Advances in Schizophrenia Research 2009. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0913-8_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0913-8_20

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