---
title: Mental Health | Cannabis use disorder tied to epilepsy hospitalizations
description: Mental Health | As Marijuana becomes legal across the country, yes there are benefits for some. Studies are starting to show that it isn't all beneficial.
---

[Mental Health Blog ](https://www.maryaprn.com/blog)

# [Mental Health | Cannabis use disorder tied to epilepsy hospitalizations](https://www.maryaprn.com/blog/mental-health-cannabis-use-disorder-tied-to-epilepsy-hospitalizations)

 Written by [MaryAPRN.com/ Advanced Practice Psych LLC](https://www.maryaprn.com/blog/author/maryaprn-com-advanced-practice-psych-llc) | Tue, Oct 15, 2019 @ 11:00 AM

Mental Health note | As more and more use Cannabis, the reality is that results are proving to be more than a positive high.

Takeaway

* Inpatients with cannabis use disorder were more than 50% as likely to have a primary diagnosis of epilepsy.

Why this matters

* Possible increasing off-label use of unregulated cannabidiol, marijuana and unknown cerebrovascular effects of long-term cannabis use.

Key results

* Risk for epilepsy hospitalization higher for patients with vs without cannabis use disorder after adjustment for:  
* Demographics (OR, 1.556; P<.001),  
* All suspected risk factors excluding other substance use disorders (OR, 1.490; P<.001), and  
* Demographics and all risk factors including tobacco, opioid, amphetamine, cocaine, alcohol abuse disorders (OR, 1.420; P<.001).  
* Among the patients with epilepsy, incidence of cannabis use disorder was 5.8%.  
* Those with cannabis use disorder:  
* Younger (P<.001),  
* More often male and African American (P<.001 for both), and  
* More commonly had preexisting epilepsy risk factors (brain tumor, meningitis, encephalitis, cerebral palsy, stroke, developmental disorders; P<.001 for all).

Study design

* Retrospective cross-sectional cohort study of Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2010-2014, patients aged 15-54 years:  
* 657,072 with primary diagnosis of epilepsy.  
* 67,575,568 without epilepsy.  
* Main outcome: epilepsy hospitalization.  
* Funding: None.

Limitations

* Study establishes only correlation.  
* Lack of information on dose, strains, preparations, reasons for use.

*[Source:](http://univadis.com/player/yuuprfxyq?m=unv_eml_essentials_enl_v5-q12019_20190604&partner=unl&rgid=5rbrzujyihytanxczemydshc&ts=2019060400&o=tile_1_id&utm_source=Retention&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=unv_eml_essentials_enl_v5-q12019_20190604_01)*

[View full post](https://www.maryaprn.com/blog/mental-health-cannabis-use-disorder-tied-to-epilepsy-hospitalizations)

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