“The habitual consumption of Cannabis influences the onset of schizophrenia”.

-Furthermore, causes the onset of psychosis in people who had not had them do not consume this substance

– also precipitates the onset of psychosis in individuals with a prior predisposition to suffering from

-cannabis use exacerbates the psychotic disorders increase its impact on the patient

– in the same waycauses a worse prognosis of patients with schizophrenia, complicating its treatment, is associated with poorer therapeutic outcomes and carries a higher cost of therapeutic

Oviedo, 2011-November is unquestionable that the habitual consumption of cannabis is a precipitating factor in people with schizophrenia. Not only proven scientifically that the habitual cannabis consumption anticipates the onset of the disease 2 years, but causes the onset of psychosis in people who had not had them do not consume this substance, precipitates the onset of psychosis in people with a predisposition to suffering from and exacerbate the psychotic disorders increase its impact on the patient ”.

This is the clinical reality of people diagnosed with schizophrenia and that they are regular users of cannabis, that doctor Miguel Bernardo, Manager of the Clínic schizophrenia programme, of the Hospital Clínic and the University of Barcelona and head of institutional relations, communication and dissemination of the CibersamIt has become clear at the close of the 15th National Congress of Psychiatry, which ended last Friday in Oviedo.

The expert pointed also to the consumption of this substance in patients with schizophrenia, causes a worse prognosis, complicating its treatment, is associated with poorer therapeutic outcomes and carries a higher cost of therapeutic ”. Dr. Bernardo has pointed out that this fact is proven in all countries with a social and economic development similar to ours, and to all stages of schizophrenia, either in his debut in others ”.

Not forget that cannabis use leads to a deterioration of cognitive performance and the deterioration of the adaptive capacities of the patient, in addition to the known amotivacional syndrome in apathy characteristic of people who consume this substance on a regular basis in creating ”, has continued explaining the expert.

Cannabis use is much more common in the age group between 15 and 35 years, precisely at a stage in which usually give the debut of schizophrenia, so the consequences for the patient are, even worse ”.

The expert, has continued stating that patients with schizophrenia are heavy smokers, in the sense that consume significant amounts of cigarettes for the most part. This, when he is associated with the consumption of cannabis, has resulted in a situation that greatly hurts the solutions to the problem, and involves pathologies associated with their physical health, such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases ”.

Symptoms of alarm which is necessary to go to the specialist

The expert has called for the prevention as a key element in health policies to this disease. However, pointed out a number of symptoms as observed by the patient or their relatives in a persistent, recurrent way and apart from the direct effects of the poisoning caused by consumption of cannabis, should lead to a health care specialist as soon as possible ”.

Among these symptoms, the doctor Miguel Bernardo has referred to the experiences of depersonalization (in which the subject has the feeling of not being it, but another person); of derealization (feel their experiences as not real, either through a sense of déjà vu or a jamais vu – face a familiar experience and family, you feel her as strange-); feelings of strangeness (common circumstances that occur with a special meaning); and a State of mind in which the patient gives a value and meaning to any fact or circumstance without having it actually it.

Further, the most severe symptoms would be those which would have to do with the feeling of being monitored, controlled, persecuted, or that other people want you to do harm; all of this, when occurs on a recurring basis and irrespective of the poisonings, accompanied by a complete lack of self-criticism, i.e. an absolute conviction that can not refute ”.

The expert has concluded his intervention Recalling the existence of already published research studies have shown that regular consumption of cannabis by persons diagnosed schizophrenia, can influence an increase in the risk of suicide ”.