Some psychological correlates of long-term heavy cannabis users.
S S Menhiratta, N N Wig, S K Verma
The British Journal of Psychiatry May 1978 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.132.5.482 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational comparative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 75 |
| Population | Long-term heavy cannabis users (50) and matched non-user controls (25) |
| Dose | average daily dose of 150 mg tetrahydrocannabinol |
| Duration | Cannabis use duration 4-10 years |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | Long-term heavy cannabis users performed worse than matched controls on psychomotor, perceptual, and concentration tasks, and scored higher on neuroticism. "Charas" smokers were the poorest performers, additionally showing poor memory, lowered psychomotor activity, and poor size estimation. |
Abstract
Fifty persons who had all been heavy cannabis users for a long time were given psychological tests measuring psychomotor, perceptual and other variables. Half of these persons were "Charas" smokers, half "Bhang" drinkers. The duration of cannabis use was 4--10 years, with an average daily dose of 150 mg tetrahydrocannabinol. A matched control group of twenty-five persons were given the same tests. Compared with this group, the cannabis users were found to react more slowly, to be poorer in concentration and time estimation, to have higher neuroticism and greater perceptuo-motor disturbance. The higher neuroticism and greater perceptuo-motor disturbance. The Charas smokers were the poorest performers and also showed poor memory, lowered psychomotor activity, and poor size estimation.
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 8
- A review of Indian research on co-occurring cannabis use disorders & psychiatric disorders The Indian journal of medical research August 1, 2017
- Medical Cannabis sativa (Marijuana or drug type): Psychoactive molecule, Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science 2023
- Clinical, Cognitive, and Neurobiological Correlates of Impaired Timing Abilities Associate to Cannabis Use: a Systematic Review International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction August 29, 2023
- Acute Effects of THC on Time Perception in Frequent and Infrequent Cannabis Users Psychopharmacology November 24, 2012
- Cannabis-related psychosis: Presentation and effect of abstinence. Indian Journal of Psychiatry October 2007
and 3 more in the library