Relationship between cannabis use and attemps of suicide in a FEP patients.

Background: Suicide has been shown to represent the major single cause of premature death among patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The prevalence of substance abuse in patients with schizophrenia is high. The relationship between substance abuse and suicide attempts hasn’t been studied enough.

Objetives: Our study investigated the relationship between cannabis use and suicide attempts in patients with a first episode of psychosis( FEP )
Method: Participants included 65 patients hospitalized as a first psychosis episode. We analyzed the suicide attempts previous hospitalization and the frequency of cannabis use.

Results: Bivariate analysis showed significant relationship between suicide attempts previous hospitalization and higher cannabis use (P<0,5) The Mann-Withney U test showed significant differences between both groups. Conclusions: There are research that investigated the relationship between substance use and suicide. Traditionally the substance use has been associated with a higher number of hospitalizations, hopelessness, suicide and symptoms exacerbation. This study shows the relationship between a higher frequency of cannabis use and less suicide attempts before of the first hospitalization and how cannabis use makes significant differences both groups.