Cannabis psychosis, gender matters

Male cannabis users outnumber female users by 2:1, and a similar ratio appears for hospital admissions with schizophrenia or psychosis. However, the ratio increases to 4:1 for admissions with cannabis psychosis, indicating marked gender differences. The research used British Crime Survey data, Hospital Episode Statistics, and prior epidemiological studies. Attending to gender is important for understanding and providing gender-sensitive services.

Study at a glance

Abstract

IntroductionDespite recent findings pointing toward cannabis psychosis as one area where gender differences may exist, there has been a widespread lack of attention paid to gender as a determinant of health in both psychiatric services and within the field of addiction.ObjectivesTo explore gender differences in treatment presentations for people with cannabis psychosis.AimsTo use national data sets to investigate gender differences.MethodsAnalysis of British Crime Survey data and a Hospital Episode Statistics data set were used in combination with data from previously published epidemiological studies to compare gender differences.ResultsMale cannabis users outnumber female users by 2:1, a similar gender ratio is found for those admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or psychosis. However this ratio increases significantly for those admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of cannabis psychosis, with males outnumbering females by 4:1.ConclusionsThis research brings into focus the marked gender differences in cannabis psychosis. Attending to gender is important for research and treatment with the aim of improving understanding and providing gender sensitive services.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.