BACKGROUND: The relationship between cannabis use and cognitive functioning in patients with psychosis has yielded contradictory findings. In individuals at genetic high risk for psychosis, information is sparse. The aim of this study was to assess the association between recency and frequency of cannabis use and cognitive functioning in patients with psychosis and their unaffected siblings. METHOD: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 956 patients with non-affective psychosis, 953 unaffected siblings, and 554 control subjects. Participants completed a cognitive test battery including assessments of verbal learning, set shifting, sustained attention, processing speed, working memory, acquired knowledge, reasoning and problem solving and social cognition. Cannabis use was assessed by urinalysis and by the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Using random-effect regression models the main effects of cannabis (recency and frequency) and the interaction with status (patient, sibling, control) on cognitive functioning were assessed. RESULTS: Current cannabis use was associated with poorer performance on immediate verbal learning, processing speed and working memory (Cohen's d -0.20 to -0.33, p<0.005). Lifetime cannabis use was associated with better performance on acquired knowledge, facial affect recognition and face identity recognition (Cohen's d+0.17 to +0.33, p<0.005). There was no significant interaction between cannabis and status on cognitive functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Lifetime cannabis-using individuals might constitute a subgroup with a higher cognitive potential. The residual effects of cannabis may impair short-term memory and processing speed.
BACKGROUND: The relationship between cannabis use and cognitive functioning in patients with psychosis has yielded contradictory findings. In individuals at genetic high risk for psychosis, information is sparse. The aim of this study was to assess the association between recency and frequency of cannabis use and cognitive functioning in patients with psychosis and their unaffected siblings. METHOD: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 956 patients with non-affective psychosis, 953 unaffected siblings, and 554 control subjects. Participants completed a cognitive test battery including assessments of verbal learning, set shifting, sustained attention, processing speed, working memory, acquired knowledge, reasoning and problem solving and social cognition. Cannabis use was assessed by urinalysis and by the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Using random-effect regression models the main effects of cannabis (recency and frequency) and the interaction with status (patient, sibling, control) on cognitive functioning were assessed. RESULTS: Current cannabis use was associated with poorer performance on immediate verbal learning, processing speed and working memory (Cohen's d -0.20 to -0.33, p<0.005). Lifetime cannabis use was associated with better performance on acquired knowledge, facial affect recognition and face identity recognition (Cohen's d+0.17 to +0.33, p<0.005). There was no significant interaction between cannabis and status on cognitive functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Lifetime cannabis-using individuals might constitute a subgroup with a higher cognitive potential. The residual effects of cannabis may impair short-term memory and processing speed.
Authors: Hila Abush; Subroto Ghose; Erin A Van Enkevort; Brett A Clementz; Godfrey D Pearlson; John A Sweeney; Matcheri S Keshavan; Carol A Tamminga; Elena I Ivleva Journal: Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging Date: 2018-03-28 Impact factor: 2.376
Authors: Susan Whitfield-Gabrieli; Adina S Fischer; Angela M Henricks; Jibran Y Khokhar; Robert M Roth; Mary F Brunette; Alan I Green Journal: Schizophr Res Date: 2017-08-18 Impact factor: 4.939
Authors: Laura Koenders; Marise W J Machielsen; F J van der Meer; Angelique C M van Gasselt; Carin J Meijer; Wim van den Brink; Maarten W J Koeter; Matthan W A Caan; Janna Cousijn; Anouk den Braber; Dennis van 't Ent; Maaike M Rive; Aart H Schene; Elsmarieke van de Giessen; Chaim Huyser; Bart P de Kwaasteniet; Dick J Veltman; Lieuwe de Haan Journal: J Psychiatry Neurosci Date: 2015-05 Impact factor: 6.186
Authors: H Bugra; E Studerus; C Rapp; C Tamagni; J Aston; S Borgwardt; A Riecher-Rössler Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2013-06-12 Impact factor: 4.530
Authors: Else-Marie Løberg; Merethe Nygård; Jan Øystein Berle; Erik Johnsen; Rune A Kroken; Hugo A Jørgensen; Kenneth Hugdahl Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2012-10-30 Impact factor: 4.157