Cognitive function and cannabis use in first episodes of psychosis
P. Fuentes-Pérez, P. Cordero Andrés, C. Ovejas-Catalán, R. Pérez Iglesias, P. Suárez Pinilla, C. Flor Gómez, D. De la Sierra Biddle, M. L. Ramírez Bonilla, J. Vázquez-Bourgon
European Psychiatry April 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2025.1688 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 207 |
| Population | Patients with a first episode of psychosis enrolled in the ITPCan Program in Santander, Spain |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | Cannabis use did not appear to determine cognitive performance in first-episode psychosis. Although cannabis users initially performed better on a processing-speed task, the difference was attributed to educational level and sex after adjustment. Cannabis users were younger at intake and had higher mania and positive psychotic symptom scores. |
Abstract
IntroductionThe association between cannabis use and cognitive functioning in individuals experiencing a first episode of psychosis (FEP) is inconsistent, with some studies reporting deterioration (Bogaty et al. J Psychiatr Res 2018; 99:22-32), others indicating improved performance (Rodríguez-Sánchez et al. Schizophr Res 2010; 124:142-151), and some finding no difference.ObjectivesThis study aims to evaluate the effect of cannabis use on cognitive functioning among individuals diagnosed with FEP.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on FEP patients enrolled in the ITPCan Program (Santander, Spain) between January 2020 and July 2024. A total of 207 participants (57 cannabis users and 145 non-users) with a FEP diagnosis were included. A descriptive-univariate analysis was performed on clinical, analytical, and cognitive variables. A Student’s t-test compared baseline cognitive performance between cannabis users and non-users, while a multivariate general linear model (GLM) assessed differences related to cannabis consumption, adjusting for sex, age, and educational level. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS.ResultsOut of the 207 FEP participants, 53.6% were women, with an average age of 36.8 years. Cannabis users comprised 28.1% of the group, and present at baseline a lower mean age at intake (27 years; p < 0.001). Cannabis users exhibited significantly higher scores in mania and positive psychotic symptoms. Cognitive assessments, completed by 148 patients (39 users and 108 non-users), revealed that cannabis users performed better than non-users on “processing speed” task; however, after adjusting for sex, age, and educational level, these differences were attributed to educational level and sex.ConclusionsIn consonance with some previous studies (Sánchez-Gutiérrez et al. Eur Psychiatry 2020; 63(1)), cannabis use does not appear to be a determining factor in cognitive performance in early psychosis.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
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 |