Self- Medication Hypothesis: Use of Cannabis by Patients with Schizophrenia in Indian Settings
Journal Title: International Journal of Medical Research Professionals - Year 2017, Vol 3, Issue 3
Abstract
Background: The correlation between adolescent cannabis use and schizophrenia is indicated by a substantial body of evidence from developed countries of the. Cannabis users have also been found to be three times more likely to develop schizophrenia. Self- medication hypothesis of schizophrenia presumes that patients with schizophrenia are inherently deficient in endogenous cannabinoid functioning; hence, such patients use cannabis to “normalise" their inherent deficits. Hence; to understand this concept we studied the use of cannabis in 50 patients with schizophrenia who were diagnosed using DSM IV- R criteria. Materials & Methods: The present study included assessment of 50 patients who were diagnosed for schizophrenia following the diagnostic criteria of DSM IV- R. All the patients were between the age group of 18 years to 42 years. In 30 patients out of 50, use of cannabis antedated the onset of schizophrenia - the period of use of cannabis ranged from 1 month to 3 months. However, in 20 out of 50 patients, the use of cannabis started after the onset of schizophrenia. All the results were compiled and assessed by SPSS software. Results: A total of 50 patients were included in the present study. 12 patients belonged to the age group of 18 to 25 years, 8 patients belonged to the age group of 26 to 30 years and 14 patients belonged to the age group of 31 to 35 years. Only 6 patients were of 36 to 40 years of age. Non-significant results were obtained while comparing the demographic details of the patients. Almost all of these patients ( 19 out of 20) were still using cannabis when assessed for this study, whereas, in patients, where cannabis use antedated the onset of illness 19 out of 30 patients were using cannabis at the time of assessment. Conclusion: A significant number of patients had used cannabis after the onset of schizophrenia shows acceptance to the self-medication hypothesis.
Authors and Affiliations
V. P. Mahla, Abhishek Kapoor, Avisha Mahla, Rahul Rai
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP547813
- DOI 10.21276/ijmrp.2017.3.3.027
- Views 88
- Downloads 0
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