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A new Canadian study links the use of hallucinogenic drugs to an increased risk of schizophrenia. People who ended up in the ER after using hallucinogens were found to be 21 times more likely than the general population to develop schizophrenia.
Even after controlling for preexisting mental disorders and substance use, the risk was still 3.5 times higher for those who ended up in the ER following exposure to hallucinogens such as magic mushrooms, Ecstasy, or LSD.
The Canadian study looked at 9.2 million people living in the Ontario area between the ages of 14 and 65. The researchers used health data from ER visits that involved hallucinogens to determine how many of those patients were later diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Less than 1% of the general population was diagnosed with schizophrenia during the study period. But 4% of patients who had been medically treated for an adverse reaction to hallucinogens would receive a diagnosis of schizophrenia within three years.
These patients were also significantly more likely to develop schizophrenia than patients whose ER visit was due to cannabis or alcohol.
Hallucinogens are a subcategory of psychedelic drugs and it’s this relationship that makes the study findings all the more significant. Psychedelics have garnered increasing attention in recent years as a potential treatment for otherwise treatment resistant mental illness. Their potential use in the treatment of severe and relapsing depression is of particular interest.
However the current study signals the need for caution in incorporating psychedelics in mental health care. Researchers emphasize that the study results were concerning but not definitive. Data are still limited regarding the risks and benefits of pharmacotherapy using psychedelics for mental illness. More research is needed.
Likewise, patients with a history of hallucinogenic use should be monitored closely for mental health concerns. This is especially true for those who experienced severe adverse reactions to these substances.
