Lord Actonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to their response to the Report from the Science and Technology Committee—Cannabis (HL Paper 39, Session 1998–99) (9th Report, Session 1997–98), whether they will respond directly to paragraph 4.11 of the report. [HL878]
§ Baroness AndrewsThe Department of Health would broadly agree with the description of the psychiatric effects of cannabis described in paragraph 4.11 of theReport from the Science and Technology Committee—Cannabis (HL Paper 39, Session 1998–99). We recognise that while a causative link between early cannabis use and later development of schizophrenia is not conclusively proven, recent epidemiological research has shown a stronger association than was evident at the time of the report.
The department recognises that confirming a clinical diagnosis in the context of continuing psychosis and persistent cannabis use can be a complex process. This needs to be made on a case-by-case basis by consultant psychiatrists and the multi-professional clinical teams involved with the care of particular patients to minimise any risk of mis-diagnosis.
The department notes that neither antipsychotic medication nor the provisions of the Mental Health Act (1983) are exclusively used for the management of schizophrenia. These interventions, in certain circumstances, are used to manage symptoms of psychosis or to detain a patient with "psychosis", so 73WA that use of these interventions does not itself equate with misdiagnosis. In fact use of powers under the Mental Health Act does not depend on identifying specific diagnoses (such as schizophrenia) but rather on the presence of "mental disorder".