By Lizzie Parry for MailOnline

Drug is ‘four times more likely to trigger psychosis in males than females’, experts warn

Gender difference between cannabis use and psychotic episodes explored
Study: Male users are four times more likely to suffer illness than females
Twice as many men as women are known to regularly use marijuana
Investigation has implications for potential gender-specific treatments

Smoking cannabis is more dangerous for men, scientists have discovered.

When it comes to the drug’s mind-altering effects, researchers at the University of York say their new study reveals males are more sensitive to mental health symptoms.

Past research has examined the relationship between marijuana – the most widely used illicit drug in the UK – and psychosis.

However the role of gender in relation to the drug’s mental health effects is less well understood.

Psychosis is a mental health problem that causes sufferer’s to perceive or interpret things differently from those around them.

The condition can trigger hallucinations where a person hears, sees, and in some cases, feels, smells or tastes things that are not there.

And delusions, where a person believes things that, when examined rationally, are obviously untrue, are also a common symptom.

The NHS states that common triggers of psychosis include traumatic experiences, drug and alcohol misuse, brain tumours as well as other mental health issues, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and severe depression.

Health scientists investigating the link drew on key literature, as well as detailed analyses of data regarding admissions for cannabis psychosis across the NHS over an 11-year period.

They drew the data from the British Crime Survey as well as regularly published Hospital Episode Statistics.

In addition, epidemiological studies were reviewed to compare gender differences.

Trends in cannabis use suggest that twice as many men as women use the drug.

And the gender disparity is mirrored in the rates of psychosis, where males outnumber females 2:1.

But the research team, led by Ian Hamilton, Dr Paul Galdas and Dr Holly Essex, found there is a significant widening of this ratio when it comes to psychosis specifically induced by cannabis use.

There, the figures reveal males outnumber females by four to one.

However it is not clear why the male brain appears to be more susceptible to the effects of cannabis.

Mr Hamilton said: ‘The marked gender differences in rates of cannabis psychosis is puzzling.

‘It is possible that mental health and specialist drug treatment services, which have a disproportionate number of men, are identifying and treating more males with combined mental health and cannabis problems.

‘However, it is also possible that women with cannabis psychosis are not being identified and offered treatment for the problems they develop.’

‘When it comes to cannabis psychosis gender does matter,’ he added.

The researchers said their focus on gender differences is important to help improve understanding and the provision of gender sensitive services.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists note that even though cannabis use can result in relaxation, if large amounts are consumed, it can have the ‘opposite effect by increasing anxiety’.

The Royal College states: ‘Some cannabis users may have unpleasant experiences including confusion, hallucinations, anxiety and paranoia, depending on their mood and circumstances.

‘Some users may experience psychotic symptoms with hallucinations and delusions lasting a few hours, which can be very unpleasant.’

The study is published in the Journal of Advances in Dual Diagnosis.

IMAGES:
Male cannabis users are four times as likely as female users of the drug to suffer psychosis, experts warn
The NHS recognises that drug and alcohol misuse is a common cause of psychosis, which can cause hallucinations and delusions
The NHS recognises that drug and alcohol misuse is a common cause of psychosis, which can cause hallucinations and delusions
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