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Episode details

Radio 4,3 mins

Psychiatrist: Abolishing 'skunk' could prevent 24% of psychosis cases

Today

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Dr Marta Di Forti, the author of a report told the programme the risk of psychosis is three times higher for users of potent strain of cannabis known as skunk, than for non-users. Dr Di Forti, an academic psychiatrist at King's College London and lead author of the study, said 24% of cases of psychosis in their study were accountable specifically to skunk. "If skunk use was abolished we could prevent up to 24% of new cases of psychotic disorder," said Dr Di Forti. She added that those suffering from the psychosis were "extremely paranoid" and become "suspicious of their neighbours".

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