Are we any closer to identifying a causal relationship between cannabis and psychosis?

Research on the link between cannabis use and psychotic symptoms has advanced over four decades but remains complex. While some insights into the nature of this relationship have been gained, major gaps persist in understanding the full trajectory of cannabis psychosis. Treatment options are limited, and there is little evidence to reliably predict who is at risk, which could enable early intervention to reduce incidence, though complete elimination is unrealistic.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This review provides the reader with an update on developments in research relating to cannabis psychosis. For over four decades researchers and clinicians have focused on the relationship between exposure to cannabis and the emergence of psychotic symptoms. This has proved to be a complicated topic to investigate but research has provided some valuable insights as to the nature of this relationship while also identifying the limits of our understanding. There are significant gaps in understanding of almost every aspect of the journey that people who have cannabis psychosis experience. Not only are treatment options limited, but we still have little evidence to help reliably predict who is at risk of developing cannabis psychosis. This would provide an opportunity to intervene early to reduce the number of people who experience this type of problem, although it is unrealistic to think it would be eliminated completely.