Experts are warning of a worrying rise in cases of psychosis, especially among young people, a serious mental condition linked to loss of contact with reality and, in extreme cases, severe violence.
A new study from Canada has found a significant increase in diagnoses of psychotic illnesses, including schizophrenia. The researchers analyzed hospital records of 12.2 million people born between 1960 and 2009 living in the province of Ontario. About 152 of them were diagnosed with a psychotic disorder, and the most pronounced increase was seen in people born after 1980.
According to the data, new diagnoses in adolescents and young adults aged 14 to 20 increased by 60 percent between 1997 and 2023. Those born between 2000 and 2004 were about 70 percent more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia compared to people born in the late 70s.
Schizophrenia is a chronic mental health disorder characterized by psychotic episodes, delusions, and hallucinations. The researchers also found that people born in the early 90s were 38 percent more likely to be diagnosed with psychosis before age 30, compared to earlier generations.
The study, published in the medical journal CMAJ, shows that diagnoses are occurring more frequently and at younger ages. In general, men are more affected than women, while the risk is higher in people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and those with a history of mental health problems or substance abuse.
Lead author Dr. Daniel Myran said these trends raise serious questions about the causes and consequences of the rise in psychosis. He said there is unlikely to be a single explanation, but one of the main suspected factors is drug use, particularly cannabis.
"There is a strong link between substance use – including cannabis, stimulants and synthetic drugs – and the development or worsening of psychotic disorders, especially when use begins early in life," he emphasizes.
Previous studies have shown that adolescents who use cannabis are up to 11 times more likely to experience psychotic episodes in adulthood. Meanwhile, increasingly potent forms of cannabis, such as “skunk,” which contain very high levels of THC, significantly increase the risk of paranoia and hallucinations.
Other experts cite additional factors, such as social and financial stress, traumatic childhood experiences, and the fact that parents are increasingly older when they have children, which may affect the biological risk. Also, improved diagnostics and awareness may have led to the identification of more cases.
The study comes at a time when several serious crimes have been directly linked to psychotic episodes, often exacerbated by cannabis use. Renowned psychiatrists warn that drug-induced psychosis is becoming increasingly common and is posing a serious public health problem.
Experts emphasize that understanding the real causes of this increase is essential for prevention, early diagnosis and more effective support for young people at risk. /GazetaExpress/
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