Common vulnerability to schizophrenia and cannabis

This is a cross-sectional study of the clinical and biological aspects of schizophrenic patients, cannabis users and schizophrenic users, in search of common vulnerability factors. Schizophrenia patients presented certain cardiovascular risk factors. Cannabis use was more frequent in men, associated with alcohol and tobacco, and daily in 40% of subjects. Toxic effects were the most frequent (90.2%). We noted an association between positive effects and age, sex and smoking, between toxic effects and alcohol consumption, and between positive and psychotic effects and the use of psychoactive substances. Positive effects are associated with length of time, quantity and frequency of use. Clinical and biological monitoring of schizophrenics and cannabis users, and advice on healthy living, are recommended, especially for cannabis use, given its somatic, psychological, psychiatric and social consequences, particularly among young people.