Cannabis Withdrawal and Psychiatric Intensive Care.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Cannabis use is common in people with severe mental illness and its adverse effects on outcomes are well established. However, adverse outcomes may also result from cannabis withdrawal syndrome (CWS). CWS includes symptoms such as agitation, irritability, and aggression, and typically peaks after 3 to 5 days of abstinence.

Objective

To assess whether cannabis use prior to admission is associated with an increase in the risk of transfer to a psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) during the cannabis withdrawal risk period.

Design, setting, and participants

This retrospective cohort study used clinical data from a secondary mental health care database and took place at 4 psychiatric hospitals in London, United Kingdom, between January 2008 and December 2023.

SUBMITTER: Malik A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12159852 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature