Cannabis use can lead to relapse in psychosis, partially because patients stop taking medication

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Thomas Richardson writes his debut blog about a recent prospective analysis of poor medication adherence and risk of relapse associated with continued cannabis use in patients with first-episode psychosis.

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Does cannabis influence depression?

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Rob Allison and Ian Hamilton summarise a recent retrospective twin cohort study that explores the links between cannabis use and depression, suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

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Cannabis and psychosis: it’s high time for a review

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Joe Barnby considers the findings of a recent meta-analysis of cannabis use and symptoms severity in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis.

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NICE one? Is NHS guidance on substance misuse fit for purpose?

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Ian Hamilton explains why the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence have missed a trick by not updating their 2007 guidance on psychosocial interventions for substance misuse.

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Cannabis use during pregnancy: little known about impact on child or maternal health

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Ellen Grimas summarises a systematic review on prenatal exposure to cannabis and maternal and child health outcomes, which highlights the lack of high quality research in this area.

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Sex matters: why have females been excluded from addiction research?

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Ian Hamilton explores two recent articles that consider the shocking sex and gender inequities in addiction research.

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Marijuana use and head and neck cancer risk #CannabisMatters

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9 case-controlled studies were included in this review of the effect of marijuana use on head and neck cancer. The findings suggest no association marijuana use and head and neck cancer but other reviews suggest that this may differ by tumour site

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CBT and motivational interviewing: best bet for cannabis cessation? #CannabisMatters

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Mark Monaghan writes his debut Mental Elf blog about a systematic review on psychological and psychosocial interventions for cannabis cessation in adults. Part of our #CannabisMatters series, this review suggests that CBT and Motivational Interviewing may improve outcomes in a self-selected population of cannabis users.

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Periodontal disease associated with persistent cannabis use #CannabisMatters

Longitudinal studies are required to assess whether cannabis use leads to increased risk of depression

This study of the impact of cannabis use on physical health used participants from the 1972-3 Dunedin birth cohort. An association between cannabis use and poorer periodontal health at age 38 years and within-individual decline in periodontal health from ages 26 to 38 years was found.

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