Cannabis et schizophrénie : données cliniques et socio-démographiques

FRANÇAIS :
Les objectifs de l'étude étaient de comparer les caractéristiques cliniques et socio-démographiques d'un groupe de patients schizophrènes ayant rempli les critères DSM III-R d'abus ou dépendance au cannabis au cours de leur vie (n = 30) à un groupe de patients schizophrènes sans antécédent d'addiction (n = 66). Les patients ont été évalués à l'aide de la section "troubles liés à l'utilisation de substances psychoactives" du Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) pour les critères DSM III-R d'abus ou dépendance au cannabis, la Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), l'échelle d'évaluation globale du fonctionnement (EGF). Les consommateurs de cannabis étaient plus jeunes et plus souvent de sexe masculin. Dans le groupe de consommateurs de cannabis, la durée totale moyenne d'hospitalisation était plus longue et les conduites suicidaires plus fréquentes. Il n'y avait pas de différences significatives entre les deux groupes concernant le nombre d'hospitalisations, l'âge du premier recours aux soins et les scores moyens de la PANSS et de l'EGF. (Résumé d'auteur.)
ENGLISH :
The objective of this study was to compare the socio-demographic correlates and the clinical features in a group of schizophrenic patients with a lifetime cannabis abuse or dependence according to the DSM III-R with a group of schizophrenic patients who had never presented any abuse or dependence. The study included 124 subjects with diagnoses of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders according to the DSM III-R. Inclusion criteria for participation in the study were age 18 years or older and willingness to pro vide consent to participate in the study. The inpatients were evaluated when their condition was stabilised. Assessment tools were the "psychoactive substance use disorder" section of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF). Subjects with cannabis abuse or dependence during their lifetime were compared with subjects without abuse or dependence, using x2 test for categorical variables and analyses of covariance (ANCOV A) for quantitative variables. Forty-nine subjects (42,6%) presented lifetime abuse or dependence on one or more substances. The study finally included 96 subjects including a first group of schizophrenic patients with cannabis abuse (n = 6) or dependence (n = 24) and a second group without any psychoactive substance abuse (n = 66). The socio-demographic characteristics of cannabis abuse or dependence in schizophrenia are similar to those found in general population. Cannabis using schizophrenic patients were more likely to be younger and male than non users. The duration of hospitalization was significantly longer for the group with cannabis abuse. Prevalence of suicide attempts in schizophrenia is closely correlated to cannabis abuse. (>From the author's abstract.)