Clinical Barriers in Treating Patients with Schizophrenia Who Use Cannabis

Abstract

Within the past two decades, psychiatric clinics have seen an increase in the number of patients with schizophrenia who use cannabis. Studies have demonstrated the drug’s exacerbating effects on schizophrenia symptoms and treatment, posing a challenge to clinicians who treat this patient population. However, insight into the perspectives and needs of these clinicians remains largely absent within the existing literature. To provide them a voice, this study utilized surveying and interviewing with a mixed quantitative and qualitative design to evaluate and analyze the perspectives, concerns, and needs of clinicians who treat patients with schizophrenia who use cannabis. Participating clinicians (n = 5) were generally confident in understanding how cannabis use affects schizophrenia and their roles as providers. However, these clinicians were less confident in the effectiveness of existing treatments, education, and literature on the subject. Additionally, participants voiced concerns about issues such as the limitations of existing literature on this patient population, the lack of established guidelines and protocols for treating this patient population, and the absence of educational resources and materials for both clinicians and patients. Overall, the number of voiced concerns and the high variation between clinicians strongly imply the necessity of these clinicians’ perspectives within research on this patient population. Increased involvement of medical professionals within the literature on cannabis use in schizophrenia should hopefully serve to implement and improve the resources that these clinicians need to make a lasting positive change in patients with schizophrenia who use cannabis.