Early onset psychosis and cannabis use: Prevalence, clinical presentation and influence of daily use.
M. Pardo, J. Matalí, Jenym Sivoli, Vila-Badia Regina, A. Butjosa, M. Dolz, B. Sánchez, A. Barajas, N. del Cacho, I. Baños, S. Ochoa, J. Usall
Asian Journal of Psychiatry May 27, 2021 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2021.102714 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 152 |
| Population | Adolescents aged 7-17 with early onset psychosis and healthy controls |
| Measures | Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | Cannabis use was more prevalent among EOP cases than controls, with daily use associated with a 42.77-fold higher odds of EOP. No PANSS differences were found, but non-users had more depressive symptoms and worse social functioning. |
Abstract
Most of the studies examining the impact of cannabis use in first episode psychosis (FEP) have been carried out in samples with adult-onset FEP. Data in persons with early onset psychosis (EOP) is scarce. The aims of the study were: To describe the prevalence of lifetime cannabis use, current use, and daily use in patients with EOP compared to healthy controls. To study the differences in clinical presentation between cannabis users and non-users. To examine the risk of presenting an EOP associated with cannabis use and the effect of doses and age of onset of use. An observational cross-sectional study was performed in 90 EOP cases and 62 healthy controls, aged between 7 and 17 years. Our results show a higher prevalence of lifetime use (p = 0002), current use (p < 0.001), and daily use (p < 0.001) in EOP cases in comparison with healthy controls. Regarding clinical presentation, we did not find significant differences in any subscale of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Non-user patients presented more severe depressive symptoms (p = 0002) and worse social functioning than cannabis users (p = 0026). Compared with subjects who never used cannabis, the risk of an EOP was significantly higher for those with a lifetime use (OR = 2.88, p = 0.002)current use (O.R = 6.09, p < 0001), and especially in those with daily use (O.R = 42.77, p = <0001). We found a higher risk of EOP in patients that have used cannabis before 15 years of age. In conclusion, it is necessary to develop early- detection and specific treatment programs for adolescents with cannabis use.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannabis use before age 15 and subsequent executive functioning 104 chronic cannabis users (49 early-onset before age 15, 55 late-onset after age 15)... | 2011 | Observational cross-sectional study | n = 148 |
| Patterns of simultaneous polysubstance use in drug using university students Drug-using university students | 2006 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 149 |
| Persisting Reductions in Cannabis, Opioid, and Stimulant Misuse After Naturalistic Psychedelic Use: An Online Survey Online survey respondents | 2020 | Cross-sectional survey | |
| User perceptions of the benefits and harms of hallucinogenic drug use: A web-based questionnaire study Users of hallucinogenic drugs who completed a web-based questionnaire | 2010 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 600 |
| Illicit Use of LSD or Psilocybin, but not MDMA or Nonpsychedelic Drugs, is Associated with Mystical Experiences in a Dose-Dependent Manner Adults recruited from the MAPS website and newsletter, most reporting use of various... | 2012 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 337 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- The Effects of Cannabidiol and δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol in Social Cognition: A Naturalistic Controlled Study Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research July 26, 2022
- Cannabis Use and Endocannabinoid Receptor Genes: A Pilot Study on Their Interaction on Brain Activity in First-Episode Psychosis International Journal of Molecular Sciences April 19, 2023
- Cannabis use and psychosis among patients hospitalized in psychiatric wards in Lebanon: a retrospective chart review Middle East Current Psychiatry November 13, 2023
- Cannabis Use Interacts With Psychosis Vulnerability in Borderline Personality Disorder: La consommation de cannabis interagit avec la vulnérabilité à la psychose dans le trouble de la personnalité limite The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry September 11, 2026
- Cannabis Use and Age-Related Acceleration of Psychosis Onset: A Meta-Analysis. Biological Psychiatry August 1, 2026
and 2 more in the library
Cites 6
- The Effect of Cannabis Use and Cognitive Reserve on Age at Onset and Psychosis Outcomes in First-Episode Schizophrenia Schizophrenia Bulletin March 9, 2011
- The contribution of cannabis use to variation in the incidence of psychotic disorder across Europe (EU-GEI): a multicentre case-control study The Lancet Psychiatry May 1, 2019
- Cannabis use in male and female first episode of non-affective psychosis patients: Long-term clinical, neuropsychological and functional differences PLoS One August 23, 2017
- Evidence for the Risks and Consequences of Adolescent Cannabis Exposure. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry March 2017
- Adolescent Initiation of Cannabis use and Early-Onset Psychosis Substance Abuse October 1, 2015
and 1 more in the library