From @firemonkey (thanks for pointing us towards this!)
There is no cure for schizophrenia. Accordingly, clinicians
must do their best at managing the various symptoms
that emerge during the course of the disease. Therefore,
identification of putative risk factors that trigger relapse
and contribute to poor prognosis is crucial. Because
cannabis might contribute to the development of
schizophrenia,
The continued effect of the drug on the
course of the disease is of great clinical interest and a focus
on how to improve outcomes in this disorder is essential.
In their observational study, Tabea Schoeler and
colleagues investigated the effects of different
patterns of cannabis (eg, use, frequency, and potency)
on risk of relapse in patients with fi rst episode
psychosis in South London, UK.
Findings showed that cannabisā eff ects on outcome varied depending
on the particular cannabis-using profile of the individual.
More specifically, cannabis users who had continuous, high frequency and high potency exposure had the worst outcome, in terms of risk of relapse, number of relapses , time to relapse, and more intense psychiatric care after the onset of psychosis compared with former users.
Further, high frequency, high potency users relapsed more quickly
than did patients who consumed high potency cannabis
at a lower frequency, hash-like cannabis users, and
patients who were never (regular) cannabis users.
I use it to get rid of the horrible stomach pains from my apā¦but I understand Iām walking a fine lineā¦I can feel the THC corrupting my mind sometimes it heightens my paranoid delusionsā¦but its either that or the stomach pains that hurt so bad I donāt do anythingā¦idk what to doā¦on my ap I can tell real from fake but its still there ā ā ā ā ā ā ā my day upā¦sorry for the long ass book rantā¦
This study doesnāt make it clear if itās continuing to use it after psychosis or using it before first episode that is detrimental. I know generally cannabis users have poor prognosis, but that article was vague.
Findings
Between April 12, 2002, and July 26, 2013, 256 patients presented with a ļ¬ rst episode of psychosis. We did follow-up assessments for these patients until September, 2015. Simple analyses showed that former regular users of cannabis who stopped after the onset of psychosis had the most favourable illness course with regards to relapse. In multiple analysis, continued high-frequency users (ie, daily use in all 24 months) of high-potency (skunk-like) cannabis had the worst outcome, indexed as an increased risk for a subsequent relapse (odds ratio [OR] 3Ā·28; 95% CI 1Ā·22ā9Ā·18), more relapses (incidence rate ratio 1Ā·77; 95% CI 0Ā·96ā3Ā·25), fewer months until a relapse occurred (b ā0Ā·22; 95% CI ā0Ā·40 to ā0Ā·04), and more intense psychiatric care (OR 3Ā·16; 95% CI 1Ā·26ā8Ā·09) after the onset of psychosis.
They do recognize that it is difficult to estimate the pre-psychotic pattern of cannabis use, but think it is likely underreported.
This study has certain limitations, such as comprising a selective subset of inner city, ļ¬ rst episode of psychosis patients more likely to engage with community mental health services and having less severe psychopathology, bias from refusal to take part in the study, use of retrospective self-report measures of cannabis and other substance use leading to under-reporting, modest sized (n=8) continued hash-like (resin) user group, and not controlling for the eļ¬ ect of migrant status, or the eļ¬ ect of type and dose of antipsychotic medication on relapse. However, as discussed in greater detail in the appendix, these factors are unlikely to have aļ¬ ected the direction of our results.
@cjcdmc4 Iād like to direct you over to our Family forum, found at:
While this forum is for people with schizophrenia and other closely related psychotic disorders, the Family forum is specifically for people like yourself, who have a loved one they are concerned about.
Also, please let your loved one know about this forum as they may find it helpful.
A lot of people say it increases their delusions and paranoia, but for me itās the opposite. I simply cannot sleep without it. At night my paranoia gets to be quite unbearable, and Iām too scared to even get out of my bed. If I do I need a weapon with me. I need my weed to keep me calm and relaxed to fall asleep, or be able to get up and move about my house, at night.
This is just my personal experience.
Everyone is also different. I cope with paranoia & anxiety like a boss. A side benefit of growing up with a Mom with pretty severe GAD. If anything pot increases my negative symptoms, or wait maybe Iām just high. (Iām not right now though)
If it makes you paranoid then it is not good for you. For a while after starting using it I was not paranoid on it. But in time I would often become paranoid. The more you are in that paranoid state the more it becomes your personality. I havenāt touched it since my first hospital visit. I sometimes wonder if I could use it occasionally now but havenāt tried it. Supposedly the ratio of THC to CBD can affect how paranoid you get.
That said I have a friend who uses it all the time and he never developed paranoia.
It depends on the person and perhaps the ratio of THC to CBD.
All in all, I probably wonāt mess with it again unless it is legalized and I can buy a strain that is high in CBD.
for me. I donāt know about other schizophrenics.