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Research Can cannabis trigger schizophrenia?
Only a few days ago in Germany a law was passed that severely ill people facilitate access to cannabis as a drug. Now an international research team reports that the use of marijuana brings with it health risks. According to Kiffen increases the risk of developing schizophrenia.
Marijuana helps against many diseases
A few days ago, when the German Bundestag passed a bill that makes it difficult for the sick to buy medical marijuana, health experts have increasingly pointed out which diseases help cannabis. Consumption of the intoxicant can also harm your health. Marijuana use increases the risk of developing schizophrenia, according to an international study.
Marijuana is not only used as an intoxicant but also for medical purposes. Cannabis consumption can also harm your health. According to a new study, it increases the risk of schizophrenia. (Image: juneart / fotolia.com) Link between cannabis use and schizophrenia risk
Earlier research had suggested that excessive cannabis use can lead to psychosis. However, a British researcher said that a particular gene is crucial for poxers to develop psychosis.
Marijuana use and schizophrenia have been the subject of numerous studies. A study by Dutch scientists suggested years ago that cannabis use can make schizophrenic.
But recently, a study by researchers at the University of Bristol concluded that cannabis smoking is not a trigger but a consequence of schizophrenia.
Influence of a risk factor
A new study of over 40 years of epidemiological data has once again provided clues that there is a link between cannabis use and the risk of schizophrenia, the news agency APA reports. Therefore, no study could prove before that kiffen can be directly responsible for the occurrence of the disease.
This has now been achieved with the new study involving the University Hospital Lausanne (CHUV) in Switzerland. According to the information, the study is based on a method called "Mendelian randomization".
This can be used to investigate the influence of a risk factor - such as cannabis use - on the occurrence of diseases - in this case schizophrenia. This makes it possible to avoid false conclusions, for example that the effect is mistaken for the cause - for example, that an increased risk of schizophrenia could be the reason for greater cannabis use. (see study from the UK)
37 percent increased schizophrenia risk
In order to arrive at the results published in the journal "Molecular Psychiatry", the scientists first evaluated data from a 2016 publication that demonstrated a link between certain gene variants and cannabis use in 32,000 study participants.
Subsequently, the same genetic markers were searched in a separate dataset that included genetic information from 34,000 patients and 45,000 healthy individuals. By combining this information from two separate sources, the researchers concluded that marijuana use is associated with a 37 percent increased schizophrenia risk.
Tobacco use has no influence
Earlier observational studies had shown similar numbers. It is also said that the context is not influenced by other factors, such as tobacco consumption.
"These robust results complement many studies in this area and show that the link between cannabis use and increased schizophrenia risk is a cause," said study author Julien Vaucher of the CHUV.
In addition, they are important to inform about the risks of Kiffens. Precisely because this substance is currently experiencing a wave of liberalization and is increasingly being used for therapeutic purposes, it needs an accurate understanding of the mechanisms of action.
For example, further studies may allow for the formulation of warnings for groups at high risk for schizophrenia or other disorders, according to the expert.
According to Vaucher, however, the method used in the study does not allow the risk to be determined depending on the amount consumed, the type of cannabis, the form of administration or the age of the consumers. (Ad)