Cannabis--psychosis pathway independent of other types of psychopathology.
Robert F Ferdinand, Jan Van der Ende, Ilja Bongers, Jean-Paul Selten, Anja C. Huizink, Frank C Verhulst
Schizophrenia Research November 15, 2005 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2005.07.027 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,580 |
| Population | Dutch general population children initially aged 4 to 16 |
| Duration | 14-year follow-up |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | Cannabis use is specifically associated with psychotic symptoms independently of prior psychopathology. |
Abstract
To investigate if associations between cannabis use and psychotic symptoms occur independently, or occur as a consequence of previous-other types of-psychopathology. A 14-year follow-up study of 1580 initially 4- to 16-year-olds who were drawn randomly from the Dutch general population was conducted. At initial assessment, psychopathology was assessed with the Child Behavior Checklist. Across the 14-year follow-up period, cannabis use and psychotic symptoms were assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). Because cannabis use is generally condoned in The Netherlands, false-negative reports of cannabis use may occur less frequently than in countries with stricter drug policies, which supports the value of the present study. Survival analyses indicated that the association between cannabis use and psychotic symptoms occurred independently of initial CBCL scores. The link between cannabis use and psychotic symptoms is specific, and does not depend on the earlier presence of other types of psychopathology. This indicates that research aimed at unraveling mechanisms that are responsible for this specific association is useful. Further, given the fact that cannabis use seemed to be a specific risk factor for future psychotic symptoms, prevention aimed against cannabis use may prohibit the onset of psychotic symptoms in vulnerable individuals.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-potency cannabis and the risk of psychosis People with first episode of psychosis and healthy controls from the local population | 2009 | Case-control study | n = 454 |
| Ayahuasca-Assisted Therapy for Addiction: Results from a Preliminary Observational Study in Canada Rural aboriginal population | 2013 | Observational study | |
| Impaired cognitive performance in drug free users of recreational ecstasy (MDMA) Otherwise healthy young people | 2000 | Observational | |
| Continued cannabis use and risk of incidence and persistence of psychotic symptoms: 10 year follow-up cohort study Individuals from the general population in Germany aged 14-24 at baseline | 2011 | Observational cohort | n = 1,923 |
| Cannabis-induced psychosis and subsequent schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: follow-up study of 535 incident cases Patients treated for cannabis-induced psychotic symptoms in Denmark between 1994 and... | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 535 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Cannabis Use during Adolescent Development: Susceptibility to Psychiatric Illness Frontiers in Psychiatry 2013
- Early onset of cannabis use and violent behavior in psychosis European Psychiatry 2020
- Consumo de cannabis y desarrollo de psicosis o esquizofrenia, análisis de la legislación actual y mapeo regional: una revisión sistemática Medicina Clínica y Social May 5, 2022
- Is Cannabis Use a Contributory Cause of Psychosis? The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry August 1, 2006