Shaul Lev-Ran, M.D.

 

Associate Professor

Department of Psychiatry

Sackler Faculty of Medicine

Tel Aviv University

Email: shauli.levran@gmail.com

 

Associate Professor, Sackler Faculty of Medicine

Deputy Director, Lev Hasharon Medical Center

Director, Addiction Medicine Clinic, Lev Hasharon Medical Center

Affiliate scientist, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada

 

 

 

 

Shaul Lev-Ran, MD

Shaul Lev-Ran MD is Deputy Director, Lev Hasharon Mental Health Center and Director of the Dual Diagnosis Clinic there. He is an Associate Professor at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University and affiliate scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Canada.

 

Dr. Lev-Ran completed his MD degree at Tel-Aviv University, Israel; psychiatric residency at the Shalvata Mental Health Centre, Tel-Aviv University, Israel; and a fellowship in Addiction Psychiatry at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Canada. He completed his MHA degree (Magna Cum Laude) at the University of Haifa. Dr. Lev-Ran further complete training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy at Tel Aviv University.

 

Dr. Lev-Ran is President of the Israel Society for Addiction Medicine, a member of the National Council on Mental Health and a member of the international Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers.

 

Dr. Lev-Ran's research focuses on the psychiatric outcomes of drug and alcohol use. Particularly, Dr. Lev-Ran focuses on the study of psychiatric outcomes of cannabis use and the interface between pain, addiction and psychiatric disorders.

 

We study the association between drug use and psychiatric disorders. We harness epidemiological and clinical approaches aimed at improving the understanding of mental health related aspects of drug use.

 

Specifically, much of our current reseach focuses on psychiatric outcomes of cannabis use.  In recent decades there has been a significant increase in the prevalence of cannabis use, as well as in the potency of cannabis consumed. This holds several medical and social implications, some of which are yet unclear. We focus on exploring mental-health related outcomes of cannabis use by conducting epidemiological research using large population-based samples as well as clinical-based research focusing on specific patient populations and specific cannabinoids Our studies regarding the effects of cannabis on depression and anxiety are commonly cited in World Heatlh Organization publications, and our reports on mental-health related aspects of medical marijuana and prescription opioids have served as a base for national policy papers.

 

We are always looking for bright and motivated students to join our team. Interested persons are invited to contact Dr. Lev-Ran at shauli.levran@gmail.com.

 

Selected Publications (since 2014-)

 

 

Publications (2013 – present)

Lev-Ran S, Adler L, Nitzan U, Fennig S.

Attitudes towards nicotine, alcohol and drug dependence among physicians in Israel.

J. Subst. Abuse Treat. 2013 Jan;44(1):84-9.

 

Lev-Ran S, Le Strat Y, Imtiaz S, Rehm J, Le Foll B.

Gender differences in prevalence of substance use disorders among individuals with lifetime exposure to substances: results from a large representative sample.

Am. J. Addict. 2013 Jan;22(1):7-13.

 

Braw Y, Sitman R, Cohen M, Berger U, Lev-Ran S, Segev A, Bloch Y, Levkovitz Y.

Remission of positive symptoms according to the "remission in Schizophrenia Working Group" criteria: A longitudinal study of cognitive functioning.

Eur. Psychiatry. 2013 Jun;28(5):282-7.

 

Lev-Ran S, Imtiaz S, Rehm J, Le Foll B.

Exploring the association between lifetime prevalence of mental illness and transition from substance use to substance use disorders: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC).

Am. J. Addict. 2013 Mar-Apr;22(2):93-8.

 

Callaghan RC, Gatley JM, Veldhuizen S, Lev-Ran S, Mann R, Asbridge M.

Alcohol-or drug-use disorders and motor vehicle accident mortality: A retrospective cohort study.

Accid. Anal. Prev. 2013 Apr;53:149-55.

 

Nitzan U, Feffer K, Bloch Y, Lichtenberg P, Lev-Ran S, Becker G, Wolfman S, Fennig S.

Consenting not to be informed: a survey on the acceptability of placebo use in the treatment of depression.

Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease 2013 Apr;201(4):345-7.

 

Lev-Ran S, Le Foll B, McKenzie K, George TP, Rehm J.

Cannabis use and cannabis use disorders among individuals with mental illness.

Compr. Psychiat. 2013 Aug;54(6):589-98.

 

Nitzan U, Bukobza G, Aviram S, Fennig S, Lev-Ran S, Braw Y, Bloch Y.

Rebelliousness in patients suffering from schizophrenia-spectrum disorders-A possible predictor of attitudes towards medication.

Psychiatry Res. 2013 Oct 30;209(3):297-301.

 

Lev-Ran S, Le Foll B, McKenzie K, George TP, Rehm J.

Bipolar disorder and co-occurring cannabis use disorders: Characteristics, co-morbidities and clinical correlates.

Psychiatry Res. 2013 Oct 30;209(3):459-65

 

Lev-Ran S, Nitzan U, Fennig S.

Examining the ethical boundaries of harm reduction: from addictions to general psychiatry.

Isr. J. Psychiatry Relat. Sci. 2014;51(3):175-80.

 

Lev-Ran S, Roerecke M, Le Foll B, George TP, McKenzie K, Rehm J.

The Association between cannabis use and depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies.

Psychol Med. 2014 Mar;44(4):797-810.

         

Lev-Ran S, Florentin I, Feingold D, Rehm J

Individuals receiving specialized treatment for drug and alcohol dependence and gambling disorder in Israel--characteristics and implications for prevalence estimates.

Subst. Abus. 2014;35(3):268-75.

 

Lev-Ran S, Feingold D, Frenkel A, Lerner A.

Clinical characteristics of individuals with schizophrenia and hallucinogen persisting perception disorder: a preliminary investigation.

J. Dual Diagn. 2014;10(2):79-83.

 

Feingold D, Weiser M, Rehm J, Lev-Ran S.

The association between cannabis use and mood disorders: a longitudinal study

J. Affect. Disord. 2014 Oct13;172C:211-218.

 

Feingold D, Nitzan U, Ratzoni G, Lev-Ran S.

Clinical correlates of alcohol abuse among adolescent psychiatric inpatients in Israel.
Isr. J. Psychiatry Relat. Sci. 2014; 51(4):258-261.

 

Lev-Ran S, Feingold D, Rudinski, Katz S, Lerner A

Schizophrenia and Hallucinogen Persisting Perceptual Disorder: a clinical investigation.

Am. J. Addict. 2015:;24(3):197-9.                                                                             

 

Feingold D, Fox J, Rehm J, Lev-Ran S

Natural Outcome of Cannabis Use Disorder: a Three-Year Longitudinal Follow-Up
Addiction; 2015 Dec;110(12):1963-74

 

Aspis A, Feingold D, Weiser M, Rehm J, Shoval G, Lev-Ran S

Cannabis Use and Mental Health-Related Quality of Life among Individuals with Depressive Disorders.
Psychiatry Res. 2015 Dec 15;230(2):341-9.
 

 Feingold D, Weiser M, Rehm J, Lev-Ran S

The association between cannabis use and anxiety disorders: results from a population- based representative sample.

Eur. Neuropsychopharmacol.2016 Mar;26(3):493-505.

 

Nitzan U, Beckerman T, Beker G, Fennig S, Lichtenberg P, Lev-Ran S, Walter G, Bloch Y

Physician perception regarding side-effect profile at the onset of antidepressant treatment: a survey of Israeli psychiatrists and primary care physicians

Ann. Gen. Psychiatr. 2016 Jan 29;15:5.

 

Lev-Ran S, Shteinmetz Y, Weiser M.
Attitudes towards substance use and substance use disorders among medical students in Israel.

Drug-Educ. Prev. Policy. 2016. 23 (6): 484-491

 

Shalit N, Shlosberg D, Shoval G, Feingold D, Lev-Ran S

The association between cannabis use and suicidality among men and women:

A population-based longitudinal study.

J. Affect. Disord. 2016 Nov 15;205:216-224

 

Feingold D, Goor-Aryeh I, Bril S, Delayahu Y, Lev-Ran S.

Problematic Use of prescription opioids and medicinal cannabis among patients suffering from chronic pain.

Pain Med. 2017 Feb 1;18(2):294-306

 

Kovatch M, Feingold D, Elkana O, Lev-Ran S.

Evaluation and comparison of tools for assessing prescription opioid addiction among chronic          pain patients.

Int. J. Methods Psychiatr. Res. 2017 Dec 26(4)

 

Feingold D, Lev-Ran S.
Primary Addictive Substances Used by Individuals Referred to Treatment in a Hospital-Based Addiction Medicine Service.
Isr J Psychiatr. Relat. Sci. 2017; 54;(2):41-46.

 

Madjar, Lev-Ran S, Shoval G
Predictors of Developing Mathematics Anxiety among Middle-School Students: a Two-Year Prospective Study.
Int. J. Psychol. 2016. Epub ahead of print.

 

Feingold D, Rehm J, Lev-Ran S.

Cannabis Use and the Course and Outcome of Major Depressive Disorder: a Population Based Longitudinal Study. 

Psychiatry Res. 2017 May; 251:225-234.

 

Feingold, D, Goor-Aryeh, I, Bril, S, Delayahu Y, Lev-Ran, S.

Depression and Anxiety among Chronic Pain Patients Receiving Prescription Opioids and Medical Marijuana.

J. Affect. Disord. 2017 Aug; 15;218:1-7.

 

Feingold, D, Goor-Aryeh, I, Bril, S, Delayahu Y, Lev-Ran, S.

Misuse of Prescription Opioids among Chronic Pain Patients suffering from Anxiety: a Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Gen. Hosp. Psych. 2017 Jul-Aug; 47;36-42

 

Lev-Ran S, Feingold D, Goodman C, Lerner AG.

Comparing triggers to visual disturbances among individuals with positive vs negative experiences of Hallucinogen-Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD) following LSD use.

Am. J. Addict. 2017 Sep; 26(6):568-571.

 

Dahan S, Levy G, Barlbeck P, Hirschmann S, Lev-Ran S.

The Impact of 'Being There': Psychiatric Staff Attitudes on the Use of Restraint.

Psychiatr Q. 2018 Mar;89(1):191-199.

 

Taub S, Feingold D, Rehm J, Lev-Ran S.

Patterns of Cannabis Use and Clinical Correlates among Individuals with Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder.

Compr. Psychiat.  2018 Jan; 80:89-96

 

Feingold D, Goldberger N, Haklai Z, Lev-Ran S.

Fatal Overdoses of Prescription Opioids in Israel 2005-2014.

European Addiction Res. 2017 Dec 21;23(6):276-283

 

Feingold D, Rehm J, Lev-Ran S.
Clinical and functional outcomes of cannabis use among individuals with anxiety disorders: A 3-year population-based longitudinal study.

Depress Anxiety. 2018 Jun;35(6):490-501

 

Mammen G, Rueda S, Roercke M, Lev-Ran S, Rehm J.

Association of Cannabis With Long-Term Clinical Symptoms in Anxiety and Mood Disorders: A Systematic Review of Prospective Studies.

J. Clin. Psychiatry. 2018 Jun 5;79(4)

 

Livne O, Razon L, Rehm J, Hasin DS, Lev-Ran S.
The association between lifetime Cannabis use and dysthymia across six birth decades.

J. Affect. Disord. 2018 Jul;234:327-334.

 

Feingold D, Brill S, Goor-Aryeh I, Delayahu Y, Lev-Ran S.
The association between severity of depression and prescription opioid misuse among chronic pain patients with and without anxiety: a cross-sectional study.

J. Affect. Disord. 2018 Aug 1;235:293-302

 

Brandt A, Rehm J, Lev-Ran S.
Clinical correlates of cannabis use among individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 2018 Sep;206(9):726-732. 

 

Shlosberg D, Amit BH, Zalsman G, Krivoy A, Mell H, Lev-Ran S, Shoval G..

Cognitive Impairments in Abstinent Male Residents of a Therapeutic Community for Substance-Use Disorders: A Five-Year Retrospective Study.

Substance Use and Misuse. Subst Use Misuse. 2019 Feb 7:1-11

 

Nakash, O, Nagar M, Bentov-Gofrit D, Steiner E, Amiaz R, Lev-Ran S, & Westen D

Validity and clinical utility of DSM and prototype diagnosis for depressive and anxiety spectrum disorders in predicting adaptive functioning. 

Psychiatry Res. 2018 Sep 11;270:50-56

 

Livne O, Shmulewitz D, Lev-Ran S, Hasin D.

Prevalence and Correlates of DSM-5 Cannabis Withdrawal Syndrome, 2012-2013: Findings from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III.

Drug Alcohol Depend. 2018 Oct 16 [Epub ahead of print]

 

Shalit N, Rehm J, Lev-Ran S

Epidemiology of Hallucinogen Use in the US: Results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.

Addict Behav. 2018 Sep 16;89:35-43

 

Sarid N, Zada M, Lev-Ran S, Yashphe E, Givon I, Barzilai M, Perry C, Avivi I, Wolf I

Medical Cannabis Use by Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients: Experience of a Single Center.

Acta Haematol. 2018 Oct 19;140(4):194-202.

 

Saad A, Gross R, Yekutieli D, Lev-Ran S, Guyatt G

Getting More out of Meta-Analyses- A new approach to meta-analysis in light of unexplained heterogeneity

Journal of Clinical Epidemiology . 2018 Dec 5. pii: S0895-4356(18)30597-3

 

Kessler T, Lev-Ran S

The association between comorbid psychiatric diagnoses and hospitalization-related factors among individuals with schizophrenia
Comprehensive Psychiatry. Compr Psychiatry. 2018 Dec 7;89:7-15