Cannabis psychosis and acute schizophrenia. a case-control study from India.
European addiction research June 1, 1999 D Basu, A Malhotra, A Bhagat et al.
A case-control study compared 20 patients with cannabis psychosis to 20 patients diagnosed with acute schizophrenic episode. Both groups were similar in demographics, family history, premorbid personality, and certain symptoms. However, the cannabis psychosis group had shorter psychosis duration, more reactive and congruent affect, less formal thought disorder, and a more varied clinical picture. Relapse in the cannabis group was always preceded by cannabis use. The findings suggest that cannabis psychosis may be a distinct condition from schizophrenia in India, and clinicians should carefully assess cannabis use in acute psychosis to avoid overdiagnosing schizophrenia.