In a significant discovery, researchers are finding more evidence that too much marijuana use can lead to severe psychotic episodes.
These episodes are not just a little confusion or fear; they represent a deep break from reality, so severe that hospital care might be needed to ensure safety.
But there’s hope in the horizon. A new study, led by Dr. Alexander Denissoff from the University of Turku in Finland, points to a promising treatment: antipsychotic medications, specifically when they’re injected early on.
These findings, based on the tracking of 1,820 individuals who experienced their first psychotic break while also dealing with cannabis use disorder, suggest a strategic shift towards using these medications sooner to prevent hospital readmissions.
Published in the Schizophrenia Bulletin, the study reveals that patients who received antipsychotic medications were significantly less likely to be hospitalized again compared to those who didn’t receive these treatments.
Among the various antipsychotic drugs, risperidone was the most effective, followed by aripiprazole, oral clozapine, and paliperidone.
The research emphasizes a crucial point: the risk of experiencing repeated psychotic episodes increases if individuals continue to use marijuana after their first psychotic episode or if they do not follow their antipsychotic medication regimen.
Interestingly, for those who were hospitalized due to any substance use disorder, clozapine was the standout medication, significantly reducing the chance of re-hospitalization due to any substance use. Risperidone and paliperidone also showed notable effectiveness.
This study sheds light on the critical need for early intervention with the right medications to manage psychosis, especially in individuals with a history of heavy marijuana use.
It’s a call to action for both healthcare providers and patients to recognize the signs early and consider the use of antipsychotics as a preventive strategy to avoid the cycle of hospitalization and relapse.
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The research findings can be found in Schizophrenia Bulletin.
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