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Cannabis use in first‐treatment bipolar I disorder: relations to clinical characteristics
Author(s) -
Kvitland Levi R.,
Melle Ingrid,
Aminoff Sofie R.,
Lagerberg Trine V.,
Andreassen Ole A.,
Ringen Petter A.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
early intervention in psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.087
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1751-7893
pISSN - 1751-7885
DOI - 10.1111/eip.12138
Subject(s) - cannabis , bipolar disorder , psychiatry , confounding , cannabis dependence , psychology , age of onset , suicide attempt , major depressive episode , medicine , clinical psychology , poison control , injury prevention , cognition , disease , cannabidiol , environmental health
Aims The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between recent cannabis use, current symptomatology and age at onset of first manic, depressive and psychotic episodes in a large sample with first‐treatment bipolar I disorder ( BD I ). Methods One hundred one patients with first‐treatment D iagnostic and S tatistical M anual of M ental D isorders, F ourth E dition ( DSM ‐ IV ) bipolar I disorder were included as part of the T hematically O rganized P sychosis study. The S tructural C linical I nterview for DSM ‐ IV was used for DSM ‐ IV diagnosis and identification of episodes of illness. Earlier suicide attempts were recorded. Manic, depressive and psychotic symptoms were rated using the Y oung M ania R ating S cale, I nventory of D epressive S ymptoms and P ositive and N egative S yndrome S cale correspondingly. Cannabis use within the six last months was recorded. Results After controlling for confounders, recent cannabis use was significantly associated with lower age at onset of first manic and psychotic episode, but not with onset of first depressive episode (both P < 0.05). Recent use was also associated with more lifetime suicide attempts ( P < 0.01). No group differences were found on symptom levels. Conclusions The present study confirms earlier findings of an association between cannabis use and a lower age at onset. Recent cannabis use was also associated with more lifetime suicide attempts. The current findings suggest that recent cannabis use is associated with a more severe course of illness in the early phase of BD I .