Psychopathologic differences between cannabis-induced psychoses and recent-onset primary psychoses with abuse of cannabis

Abstract

The study aims to identify psychopathologic variables in cannabis-induced psychosis and recent-onset primary psychoses using the Symptom Checklist-90-R and the Psychiatric Research Interview for Substance and Mental Disorders. A sample of 181 subjects with psychotic symptoms and cannabis use referred to the psychiatry inpatient units of 3 university general hospitals were assessed. The final sample included 50 subjects with a diagnosis of cannabis-induced psychotic disorder (CIPD) and 104 subjects with primary psychotic disorders. Using receiver operating characteristic curves, the most efficient psychopathologic variables for classifying CIPD were interpersonal sensitivity, “depression,” phobic anxiety, and Scale to Assess Unawareness of Mental Disorders subscales. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the model including depression and “misattribution” scores was 96.78% (95% confidence interval, 94.43-99.13). Depressive symptoms could be used to distinguish CIPD from other primary psychotic disorders. Clinical variables related to “neurotic” symptoms could be involved in the susceptibility to cannabis-induced psychosis.