Supervisors info:
Αθανάσιος Δουζένης, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Εμμανουήλ Ρίζος, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Ιωάννης Μιχόπουλος, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Σύγκριση παραβατικής συμπεριφοράς μεταξύ ασθενών που νοσηλεύθηκαν σε Ψυχιατρική Κλινική Γενικού Νοσοκομείου με διάγνωση "ψυχωσική συνδρομή" και εκείνων που νοσηλεύτηκαν με την ίδια διάγνωση και παράλληλη χρήση ινδικής κάνναβης, κατά το έτος 2016
Summary:
It is widely known that the use of cannabis is linked to a degree of delinquency which is, however, lower than heroin, cocaine and alcohol users. On the other hand, psychotic patients without parallel use of cannabis have a delinquent behavior.
The purpose of the present study was to compare the delinquency of the patients hospitalized at the Psychiatric Clinic of “Konstantopouleio” General Hospital of Nea Ionia in 2016, diagnosed with psychotic disorder, with those hospitalized with the same diagnosis and parallel use of cannabis. The types of delinquency for which the hospitalized sample patients were arrested were: theft, beating, dangerous driving, possession and trafficking of cannabis, and murder, whether premeditated or by negligence.
The manifestation of violent behavior has an impact on public health and occurs in the context of several mental disorders (Brandtland, 2002). According to the literature, rates of violent and criminal behavior are higher in people who have been diagnosed with a serious and established mental illness compared to the general population (Swanson et al., 2002).
Although cannabis use is often referred in cases of arrest, violent behavior, involuntary injury, and admission for hospitalization, the investigation of the relationship between cannabis use and violent behavior has led to contradictory conclusions.
Based on the present study, there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of their arrest for beating, and more specifically, 60% of the sample diagnosed with psychotic disorder was arrested for beating, while in the corresponding sample with the same diagnosis and parallel use of cannabis, 33.3% have been arrested for the same cause.
However, in future attempts to investigate the comparison between the two above-mentioned patient groups, it is advisable to take into consideration other factors, such as, quantity and quality of cannabis, duration of use, possible withdrawal symptoms, as well as external factors that led to the arrest and hospitalization.
Keywords:
Cannabis, Delinquency, Cannabis induced psychosis, Psychotic disorder
