What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: Mental Health, THC.

Cannabis-induced psychosis dropped during pandemic despite overall stability

Q: Where was this research published?

Published in Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology on June 1, 2026.

Patterns of substance-induced psychosis during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national registry study of specialist healthcare contacts.

Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology • June 1, 2026 • Moderately Relevant

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AI Summary

This Norwegian registry study examined how substance-induced psychosis (SIP) patterns changed during the COVID-19 pandemic by analyzing 7,150 individuals diagnosed with SIP between 2012-2021. Researchers compared actual cases from 2020-2021 against predictions based on pre-pandemic trends to determine whether lockdowns, changes in substance availability, or healthcare disruptions affected rates of severe psychotic episodes triggered by drug use. The study found that overall SIP rates remained relatively stable during the pandemic, but specific substances showed distinct patterns—cannabis-induced psychosis rates fell below expected levels, while amphetamine-induced and multi-substance psychosis increased during lockdown periods.

The findings reveal important drug-specific variations that likely reflect changes in substance availability and use patterns rather than healthcare access disruptions. Cannabis-induced psychosis cases, in particular, were consistently lower than pre-pandemic predictions, suggesting either reduced cannabis use during the pandemic or changes in how cannabis was being consumed. Conversely, amphetamine-induced psychosis spiked during strict lockdowns, potentially indicating substitution toward more readily available stimulants. A concerning finding was the high baseline mortality burden among SIP patients, with significant rates of suicide and accidental poisoning, though these mortality patterns remained stable between pandemic and pre-pandemic periods.

For cannabis users and policymakers, this research highlights that severe psychotic episodes linked to cannabis use are not inevitable—rates can vary based on substance availability and consumption patterns. The study underscores the importance of monitoring drug-specific mental health risks, particularly the relationship between cannabis use and psychosis vulnerability. Understanding these patterns helps inform public health responses and mental health services planning during periods of social disruption.

📄 Original Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic affected both substance use patterns and impacted healthcare systems. Substance-induced psychosis (SIP) is a severe mental disorder characterized by severe psychosis triggered by substance use. The number of treated SIP episodes may be sensitive to both changes in substance availability and treatment access. We study investigated whether the monthly prevalence of SIP episodes and mortality among SIP patients changed during the pandemic in Norway, comparing observed cases during 2020-2021 to predictions based on pre-pandemic trends. We analyzed data from the Norwegian Patient Registry (2012-2021), we identified 7,150 individuals diagnosed with SIP (ICD-10 F1x.5). Monthly prevalence rates for overall SIP episodes and substance-specific SIP diagnoses (i.e., due to alcohol, cannabis, amphetamines, or multiple substances) and yearly mortality rates were predicted using ensemble time-series models. Deviations during the pandemic were assessed against 95% prediction intervals derived from pre-pandemic data. The observed monthly prevalence of episodes of any SIP during 2020-2021 largely matched predictions, with some deviations. Alcohol-induced psychosis showed lower than expected rates in 2020 but higher in 2021. Cannabis-induced psychosis rates were below expectations. Amphetamine-induced psychosis and psychosis due to multiple substances showed higher-than-expected rates during lockdowns, with lower rates between lockdowns. Mortality rates among SIP patients for all-cause mortality, suicide, and accidental poisoning during the pandemic were similar to those in the pre-pandemic period. The pandemic did not seem to alter the overall number of SIP episodes. There were, however, some drug-specific changes. This may reflect drug availability, changes in substance use, or changes in healthcare access. A high mortality burden was observed among patients with SIP. However, mortality rates due to all causes, suicide, and accidental poisoning in this group were similar in the pandemic and pre-pandemic periods.

Paper Type

📄 Research

Publication

Journal: Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology
Published: June 1, 2026
PMID: 42223648
DOI: 10.1007/s00127-026-03133-0

Authors (10)

Jørgen G Bramness Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O.Box 222, Oslo, 0213, Norway. joebra@ous-hf.no.
Ingunn Olea Lund PsychGen Center for Genetic Epidemiology and Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
Lars Johan Hauge Department of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
Eline Borger Rognli Section for Clinical Addiction Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Marja Leonhardt Section for Clinical Addiction Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
+5 more authors