Kydon P. Clinical-psychopathological and pathopsychological characteristics of patients with paranoid schizophrenia, combined with cannabinoids use

The dissertation is devoted to the study of clinical, psychopathological and pathopsychological characteristics of patients with paranoid schizophrenia, combined with cannabinoids use and the development of principles of differential diagnosis and differentiated treatment approach to this group of patients. The main group consisted of 186 patients with the main diagnosis of schizophrenia, paranoid form, who used cannabis (at least 6 months) and were treated in a psychiatric hospital. The control group I consisted of 90 patients with paranoid schizophrenia, who also underwent inpatient treatment. They had no systematic use or dependence on any PAS other than nicotine. Control group II was 31 people that at the time of the study used (or abused) cannabinoids and have not been diagnosed with any mental disorder. Clinical-psychopathological (manic-paranoid syndrome, the severity of positive symptoms, personality disorders like type of residual personality changes), clinical-dynamic (debut at an earlier age, antisocial symptoms on before manifest stage, shorter duration of remission, most progression of the schizophrenic process, therapeutic resistance) and psychodiagnostics (alarm type of internal picture of the disease, higher personal anxiety, hyperthymic and exalted types of accentuations of character) criteria of paranoid schizophrenia, combined cannabinoids use were selected on the basis of a comprehensive study. As a result of the study, a system of diagnosis and prognosis of paranoid schizophrenia combined cannabinoids use has been scientifically substantiated, developed and implemented, what is an essential prerequisite for carrying out qualified therapeutic and preventive measures in this contingent of patients.