Strube, Constantin; Comazzi, Renato Davide; Löwinger, Dimitri; Auer, Reto; Moggi, Franz; Pfeifer, Philippe (2023). Attitudes of Swiss psychiatrists towards cannabis regulation and medical use in psychiatry: a cross-sectional study. Journal of cannabis research, 5(1), p. 40. Springer Nature 10.1186/s42238-023-00210-y
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BACKGROUND
Changes in regulation for cannabis for nonmedical use (CNMU) are underway worldwide. Switzerland amended the law in 2021 allowing pilot trials evaluating regulative models for cannabis production and distribution. Simultaneously, cannabis for medical use (CMU) in psychiatry is a growing issue, asked for by patients and being discussed by medical professionals.
METHODS
From December 2021 to February 2022, we conducted an online survey of psychiatrists in Switzerland. The survey comprised questions on attitudes towards regulative models for CNMU and towards prescribing CMU for mental disorders.
RESULTS
We contacted 2010 psychiatrists in Switzerland. A total of 274 (14%) participated in the survey. Sixty-four percent agreed to a regulated legalization of CNMU, and 89% would welcome pilot trials in Switzerland assessing models for regulating CNMU with those from a French-speaking region being more skeptical. Forty-nine percent of psychiatrists agree that CMU might have a therapeutic effect in mental disorders, but 50% agree that there is not enough scientific evidence yet. Participants working in an inpatient setting or in a French-speaking region as well as those with a longer duration of practice were more skeptical on CMU for mental health.
CONCLUSIONS
Most surveyed Swiss psychiatrists favor the regulation of CNMU and the conduct of pilot trials. Despite little evidence and potential negative consequences, many participating Swiss psychiatrists agreed that cannabis could be efficacious in the treatment of some mental disorders advocating for more research in this topic.
Item Type: |
Journal Article (Original Article) |
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Division/Institute: |
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of General Internal Medicine (DAIM) > Clinic of General Internal Medicine 04 Faculty of Medicine > Medical Education > Institute of General Practice and Primary Care (BIHAM) |
UniBE Contributor: |
Comazzi, Renato Davide, Löwinger, Dimitri Manuel, Auer, Reto |
Subjects: |
300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 360 Social problems & social services 600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health |
ISSN: |
2522-5782 |
Publisher: |
Springer Nature |
Language: |
English |
Submitter: |
Pubmed Import |
Date Deposited: |
08 Dec 2023 15:59 |
Last Modified: |
18 Dec 2023 11:32 |
Publisher DOI: |
10.1186/s42238-023-00210-y |
PubMed ID: |
38057933 |
Additional Information: |
Open Access Funding provided by University of Bern. |
Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Cannabis Medical use Nonmedical use Regulation Swiss psychiatrists |
BORIS DOI: |
10.48350/189976 |
URI: |
https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/189976 |
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