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Factors associated with suicide in people who use drugs: a scoping review

Suicide is a significant contributor to global mortality. People who use drugs (PWUD) are at increased risk of death by suicide relative to the general population, but there is a lack of information on associated candidate factors for suicide in this group. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive overview of existing evidence on potential factors for death by suicide in PWUD.

Marijuana and Myocardial Infarction in the UK Biobank Cohort

Atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, acute coronary syndromes, and cardiac arrest have been attributed to marijuana. But the National Academy of Science’s 2017 Report, The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids, found limited evidence that acute marijuana smoking is positively associated with an increased risk of acute myocardial infarction, and uncovered no evidence to support or refute associations between any chronic effects of marijuana use and increased risk of myocardial infarct (MI).

Diurnal and 24-h Intraocular Pressures in Glaucoma: Monitoring Strategies and Impact on Prognosis and Treatment

Author: Anastasios G. Konstas, Malik Y. Kahook, Makoto Araie, Andreas Katsanos, Luciano Quaranta, Luca Rossetti, Gábor Holló, Efstathios T. Detorakis, Francesco Oddone, Dimitrios G. Mikropoulos & Gordon N. Dutton Published…

Rates and Predictors of Conversion to Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder Following Substance-Induced Psychosis.

Authors: Marie Stefanie Kejser Starzer, Merete Nordentoft, Carsten Hjorthøj
American Journal of Psychiatry, April 2018

OBJECTIVE: The authors investigated the rates of conversion to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder after a substance-induced psychosis, as well as risk factors for conversion. METHOD: All patient information was extracted from the Danish Civil Registration System and the Psychi…

Associations Between Marijuana Use and Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Outcomes: A Systematic Review.

Authors: Divya Ravi, Mehrnaz Ghasemiesfe, Deborah Korenstein, Thomas Cascino, Salomeh Keyhani
Annals of Internal Medicine, 6 February 2018

BACKGROUND: Marijuana use is increasing in the United States, and its effect on cardiovascular health is unknown. PURPOSE: To review harms and benefits of marijuana use in relation to cardiovascular risk factors and clinical outcomes. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Psy…

Maternal Marijuana Use and Adverse Neonatal Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Authors: Shayna Conner, Victoria Bedell, Kim Lipsey, George Macones, Alison Cahill, Methodius Tuuli
Obstetrics & Gynecology, October 2016

OBJECTIVE: To estimate whether marijuana use in pregnancy increases risks for adverse neonatal outcomes and clarify if any increased risk is attributable to marijuana use itself or to confounding factors such as tobacco use. DATA SOURCES: Two authors performed a search of the…

Psychotic experiences are linked to cannabis use in adolescents in the community because of common underlying environmental risk factors.

Authors: Sania Shakoor, Helena M.S. Zavos, Philip McGuire, Alastair G. Cardno, et al
Psychiatry Research, 30 June 2015

Cannabis users are more likely to have psychotic experiences (PEs). The degree to which these associations are driven by genetic or environmental influences in adolescence is unknown. This study estimated the genetic and environmental contributions to the relationship between…

Proportion of patients in south London with first-episode psychosis attributable to use of high potency cannabis: a case-control study.

Authors: Marta Di Forti, Arianna Marconi, Elena Carra, Sara Fraietta, Antonella Trotta, Matteo Bonomo, et al
The Lancet Psychiatry, March 2015

BACKGROUND: The risk of individuals having adverse effects from drug use (eg, alcohol) generally depends on the frequency of use and potency of the drug used. We aimed to investigate how frequent use of skunk-like (high-potency) cannabis in south London affected the associatio…

Cannabis, the pregnant woman and her child: weeding out the myths.

Authors: S C Jaques, A Kingsbury, P Henshcke, C Chomchai, S Clews, J Falconer, M E Abdel-Latif, et al
Journal of Perinatology, June 2014

To review and summarise the literature reporting on cannabis use within western communities with specific reference to patterns of use, the pharmacology of its major psychoactive compounds, including placental and fetal transfer, and the impact of maternal cannabis use on preg…

A controlled family study of cannabis users with and without psychosis.

Authors: Ashley C. Proal, Jerry Fleming, Juan A. Galvez-Buccollini, Lynn E. DeLisi
Schizophrenia Research, January 2014

BACKGROUND: Cannabis is one of the most highly abused illicit drugs in the world. Several studies suggest a link between adolescent cannabis use and schizophrenia. An understanding of this link would have significant implications for legalization of cannabis and its medicinal…

Association between pre- and perinatal exposures and Tourette syndrome or chronic tic disorder in the ALSPAC cohort.

Authors: Carol A. Mathews, Jeremiah M. Scharf, Laura L. Miller, Corrie Macdonald-Wallis, et al
British Journal of Psychiatry, January 2014

BACKGROUND: Tourette syndrome and chronic tic disorder are heritable but aetiologically complex. Although environment plays a role in their development, existing studies of non-genetic risk factors are inconsistent. AIMS:
To examine the association between pre- and perinatal e…

Birth outcomes associated with cannabis use before and during pregnancy.

Authors: Mohammad R. Hayatbakhsh, Vicki J. Flenady, Kristen S. Gibbons, Ann M. Kingsbury, et al
Pediatric Research, February 2012

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to examine the association between cannabis use before and during pregnancy and birth outcomes. RESULTS: Overall, 26.3% of women reported previous use of cannabis and 2.6% reported current use. Multivariate analysis, controlling for potential con…