(Press-News.org) VIEW EMBARGOED ARTICLE
Cannabis potency is increasing — The concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has increased fivefold in the last 20 years in Canada from about 4% to 20% in most legal dried cannabis.
High-potency and regular cannabis use is linked to increased risk of psychosis — The risk of psychosis is increased in people using high-potency THC (more than 10% THC), people using it frequently, and those who are younger and male. A history of mental disorders (depression, anxiety, etc.) also appears to increase the risk.
Cannabis-induced psychosis and cannabis use disorder increase the risk of schizophrenia — A recent study of 9.8 million people in Ontario found a 14.3-fold higher risk of developing a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder in people visiting the emergency department for cannabis use and a 241.6-fold higher risk from visits for cannabis-induced psychosis.
Treatment requires stopping cannabis and taking medication — Continued use of cannabis after a first episode of cannabis-induced psychosis is linked to greater risk of returning symptoms. Antipsychotic medication can help people with severe and prolonged symptoms.
Behavioural options may help with cannabis cessation — Motivational interviewing or cognitive behavioural therapy by a physician or psychologist can help build skills to resist cravings and follow treatment recommendations.
“Cannabis from the 2000s is not the same as in 2025,” said coauthor Dr. Nicholas Fabiano, MD, resident and researcher with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario. “THC content has increased by 5 times. This is likely a significant driver in the increasing link between cannabis use and schizophrenia.”
“Cannabis and psychosis” is published August 11, 2025.
END
Five things to know about cannabis and psychosis
2025-08-11
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Ancient practice of blowing through a conch shell could help to treat dangerous snoring condition
2025-08-11
People who practised blowing through a conch shell regularly for six months experienced a reduction in their symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), according to a small randomised controlled trial published today (Monday) in ERJ Open Research [1].
OSA is a common sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops during the night due to a blocked airway. It leads to loud snoring, restless sleep and daytime sleepiness. It also increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
Blowing ...
Research highlights depression risk in high-performance athletes, despite benefits of physical activity
2025-08-10
Research by sports scientists reveals that high-performance athletes face unique mental health challenges despite the well-established benefits of physical activity for depression prevention and treatment.
While moderate exercise is widely recognized for its positive impact on mental health, elite athletes experience specific pressures that can contribute to depression, including performance nerves, injury concerns and identity crises.
These findings are detailed in the comprehensive new book, Physical ...
Scientists uncover new way in which cells tolerate anticancer drugs
2025-08-09
Tokyo, Japan – Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have discovered a new pathway by which cells counteract the action of alovudine, an important antiviral and anticancer drug. The protein flap endonuclease-1 (Fen1) was found to improve cell tolerance by counteracting the toxic accumulation of another protein, 53BP1. A renewed spotlight on the underappreciated role of Fen1 promises not only new cancer treatments, but a way to gauge the efficacy of existing treatments.
Chain-terminating nucleoside analogs (CTNAs) are molecules which closely resemble nucleosides, the building blocks of DNA. They have been used as antiviral and cancer treatments ...
Athlete mental health support from coaches “under explored” in research amidst deselection concerns
2025-08-08
A paper published in BMJ Open today (Friday 8 August) led by researchers from the University of Birmingham highlights how few studies conducted into athlete help-seeking for mental health have looked into support provided by semi-formal sources such as coaches, with the majority of research conducted on formal sources.
The team reviewed 104 relevant studies conducted around the world and found that while many athletes experience mental health issues, they face unique sport-specific barriers when seeking help and ...
UCLA study reveals complex muscle control behind blinking and eyelid function
2025-08-08
A blink of an eye seems natural and instantaneous, but is it? Without a functioning eyelid, the eye can become dry, irritated and eventually lose the ability to see clearly.
Now, a team of UCLA biomechanical engineers and ophthalmologists has uncovered new details about the muscle that controls blinking, offering a pathway toward developing blink-assisting prostheses. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study found that the orbicularis oculi — the muscle that controls eyelid movement — contracts in complex patterns that vary by action and move the eyelid in more than just a simple up-and-down motion.
The researchers studied how ...
Destructive cosmic airbursts likely more common than previously believed
2025-08-08
(Santa Barbara, Calif.) — Touchdown airbursts — a type of cosmic impact that may be more common than the crater-forming, dinosaur-killing kind — remain somewhat less understood. UC Santa Barbara Earth Science Emeritus Professor James Kennett and collaborators continue to make the case that these high-energy events deserve closer attention.
“Touchdown events can cause extreme damage through very high temperatures and pressures,” Kennett said. “And yet they don’t necessarily form a crater, or they form ephemeral surface disturbances, but they’re ...
Does a parent’s exposure to workplace chemicals affect autism in their children?
2025-08-08
(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) — A new study in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health finds parents’ workplace chemical exposure may be linked to a range of behavioral challenges and developmental delays in their children with autism.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that is marked by challenges with social skills, communication struggles and repetitive behaviors. Autism traits can vary widely in how mild or strong they are.
“Past research explored the impact of environmental factors on the likelihood of a child developing autism,” said Irva ...
Yale study: Mobile phone app reduced suicidal behavior among high-risk patients
2025-08-08
Yale Study: Mobile Phone App Reduced Suicidal Behavior Among High-Risk Patients
August 08, 2025
by Christopher Gardner
A mobile phone app designed to deliver suicide-specific therapy reduced suicidal behavior among high-risk psychiatric inpatients, according to a new study by scientists at Yale School of Medicine and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine.
The study, published Aug. 8, 2025 in JAMA Network Open, found that the app, OTX-202, reduced the recurrence ...
‘A tipping point’: An update from the frontiers of Alzheimer’s disease research
2025-08-08
‘A tipping point’: An update from the frontiers of Alzheimer’s disease research
One-third of people older than 85 in the United States are estimated to live with Alzheimer’s disease today, according to the National Institute on Aging. The condition’s characteristic long, slow decline places an enormous burden on families and on society. While the need for new treatments is urgent, Alzheimer’s is a complex disease that requires multidisciplinary research across a wide range of specialties.
In a new article led by Yale’s Amy Arnsten, researchers from across numerous disciplines share an ...
Copper antimicrobials can drive antibiotic resistance in bacteria, but there’s a fix, scientists say
2025-08-08
Key takeaways
Heavy use of antibiotics has led to bacterial strains that resist them, making some infections difficult to treat. Copper antimicrobials are increasingly used to reduce the emergence of resistant strains.
New research shows that heavy use of copper leads to the evolution of copper-resistant E. coli bacteria that can also resist antibiotic drugs.
Fortunately, when the use of copper is stopped, bacteria quickly revert to a less-resistant state, suggesting that alternating copper with other antimicrobials could be as effective without driving resistance.
Copper has emerged as an ally in the battle against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Copper sulfate ...