summary: A new study links psychedelic drug-related emergency department visits to a 21-fold increased risk of schizophrenia compared to the general population. Even after accounting for other mental health disorders and substance use, individuals faced a 3.5 times higher risk.
Psychedelic drug-related ED consultation rates jumped 86% between 2013 and 2021, highlighting the growing popularity of psychedelics. Although this finding does not prove causation, it highlights the potential risks for individuals who are particularly susceptible to psychosis. Researchers urge caution when using psychedelics outside of a controlled therapeutic setting.
important facts:
- People who present for psychedelic drug-related ED face a 21 times higher risk of schizophrenia.
- Emergency department visits for hallucinogens increased by 86% from 2013 to 2021.
- Even after adjusting for other factors, the risk of schizophrenia remains 3.5 times higher.
sauce: ice
Emergency department visits with hallucinogen use are at increased risk of developing schizophrenia, according to a new study by researchers at ICES, The Ottawa Hospital, the University of Ottawa Department of Family Medicine, and Bruyère Health Research Institute.
These findings come as psychedelic drugs, a type of hallucinogen, are gaining popularity across North America in both recreational and therapeutic contexts. Hallucinogens include drugs such as psilocybin, LSD, DMT (ayahuasca), and MDMA (ecstasy).
The study, which followed more than 9.2 million people in Ontario, Canada, found that people who had a hallucinogen-related emergency department (ED) visit were 21 times more likely to develop schizophrenia than the general population. It turned out.
Even after accounting for an individual’s co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders, the study found a 3.5-fold increased risk of schizophrenia.
“Our findings highlight a worrying association between psychedelic drug use requiring emergency room care and an increased risk of schizophrenia,” said the University of Ottawa Society. said Dr. Daniel Mylan, Canada Research Chair in Responsibility and Adjunct Research Fellow at ICES. Clinical Research Fellow, Bruyère Health Research Institute, The Ottawa Hospital.
“While there is great enthusiasm for psychedelic-assisted therapy as a new mental health treatment, it is important to remember that data on both benefits and risks are still in its infancy and limited. ” Mylan added.
Published in a magazine JAMA PsychiatryResearchers analyzed health data for people aged 14 to 65 living in Ontario from 2008 to 2021.
The authors examined changes over time in the number of emergency department visits involving hallucinogens and the risk of being diagnosed with schizophrenia after such visits.
Key findings:
- The rate of psychedelic drug-related emergency department visits remained stable from 2008 to 2012, but increased by 86% between 2013 and 2021.
- 4% of people were diagnosed with schizophrenia within 3 years of an emergency department visit with hallucinogens, compared to 0.15% of the general population who visited during the same period, making the risk 21 times higher .
- People who visited the emergency department for using hallucinogens had a 4.7 and 1.5 times higher risk of schizophrenia than people who used alcohol and cannabis, respectively.
The authors note that their findings do not establish a causal relationship between psychedelic drug use and schizophrenia, and that more information is needed about the risks associated with different types and patterns of use of psychedelics. It is emphasized that.
However, this study highlights the risks associated with psychedelic drug use in requiring ED treatment, and potentially in individuals with an underlying susceptibility to psychosis or schizophrenia. I’m doing it.
The authors also highlight the importance of further research and public health measures to better understand and reduce these risks.
“Clinical trials of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy include safeguards such as excluding individuals with a personal or family history of schizophrenia and close monitoring while participants use psychedelics. are being taught.
“Our findings provide a timely warning about the potential risks of psychedelic drug use outside of clinical trial settings,” Mylan says.
“It is also important to be able to identify people at risk of developing serious adverse events from psychedelics that require emergency treatment. By doing so, future trials can screen for baseline risk of complications from psychedelic use. and can inform safe recruitment efforts,” said Dr. Marco. Mr. Solmi is the Director of Research at the Ottawa Department of Psychiatry and the Medical Director of the Ontrack Early Intervention Service for the Psychosis Early Intervention Service of Ottawa.
About this research news on hallucinogens and schizophrenia
author: Misty Pratt
sauce: ice
contact: Misty Pratt – ICES
image: Image credited to Neuroscience News
Original research: Closed access.
“Hallucinogen use and emergency department visits at risk for schizophrenia spectrum disorders” by Daniel Mylan et al. JAMA Psychiatry
abstract
Hallucinogen use and emergency department visits at risk for schizophrenia spectrum disorders
importance
Interest and use of psychedelic drugs is rapidly increasing. A frequently raised concern is that psychedelics may be associated with an increased risk of psychosis, but data regarding this association are limited.
the purpose
To investigate whether emergency department (ED) visitors with hallucinogen use are at increased risk of developing schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD).
Design, settings and participants
This population-based retrospective cohort study (January 2008 to December 2021) included all individuals aged 14 to 65 years living in Ontario, Canada, with no history of psychosis (SSD or substance-induced). It was included. Data was analyzed from May to August 2024.
exposure
Emergency department visits related to hallucinogen use.
Main results and measures
Diagnosis of SSD using algorithms validated on medical records. The association between emergency department visits involving hallucinogens and SSD was estimated using cause-adjusted hazard models. Individuals with psychedelic drug-related emergency department visits were compared to members of the general population (primary analysis) or individuals with alcohol- or cannabis-related emergency department visits (secondary analysis).
result
9,244,292 people participated in this study (average [SD] Age, 40.4 years [14.7] year. (50.2% female) had no history of psychosis, and median follow-up was 5.1 years (IQR, 2.3-8.6 years). 5217 people (0.1%) presented to the emergency department with hallucinogen use.
The rate of psychedelic drug-related emergency department visits remained stable from 2008 to 2012, but increased by 86.4% from 2013 to 2021 (3.4 vs. 6.4 per 100,000 people).
People who visited the emergency department for using hallucinogens had a higher risk of being diagnosed with SSD within 3 years compared to the general population (age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratio) [HR]21.32 [95% CI, 18.58-24.47]Absolute rate of SSD over 3 years, 208 of 5,217 cases involved hallucinogen use [3.99%] vs. 13,639 out of 9,239,075 people in the general population [0.15%]).
After adjusting for comorbid substance use and mental health status, those with a hallucinogen-related ED visit had a higher risk of SSD compared to the general population (HR, 3.53; 95% CI, 3.05-4.09 ). ED visits with hallucinogens were significantly less likely to occur at 3 years compared to ED visits with alcohol (HR, 4.66; 95% CI, 3.82-5.68) or cannabis (HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.21-1.80). was associated with increased risk of SSD within the fully adjusted model.
Conclusion and relevance
In this cohort study, those who attended an ED with hallucinogen use had a higher risk of developing SSD compared to the general population and those who attended an ED for other types of substances. . Given the rise in psychedelic drug use and associated emergency department visits, these findings have important clinical and policy implications.
