Schizophrenia, cannabis use and Catechol‐O‐Methyltransferase (COMT): Modeling the interplay on cognition
Marta Bosia, M. Buonocore, M. Bechi, Liliana-Mihaela Stere, Maria Paola Silvestri, Emanuela Inguscio, Marco Spangaro, F. Cocchi, L. Bianchi, C. Guglielmino, Roberto Cavallaro
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry June 1, 2019 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.02.009 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 135 |
| Population | Patients with chronic schizophrenia |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | A significant interaction appeared between COMT Val158Met genotype and cannabis use on verbal fluency and processing speed. Among participants with a history of cannabis use, Met carriers performed better on both tasks than Val/Val homozygotes, a pattern the authors say is consistent with literature in healthy subjects suggesting greater harm from cannabis in Val/Val carriers. |
Abstract
&NA; Cognitive impairments are considered core features of schizophrenia and are recognized as the most important predictors of functional outcome and quality of life. A better study of the mechanisms underlying the cognition is of extreme relevance. Literature has shown that several genetic and environmental factors affect cognitive performance. In particular, the interaction between Catechol‐O‐Methyltransferase (COMT) gene and cannabis use has gained increasing attention in the past years. Based on these premises, the present study, aimed to analyze the interplay between cannabis use and COMT polymorphism on cognitive performance in a sample of 135 patients with chronic schizophrenia. Patients were assessed for neurocognitive measures with a broad battery, genotyped for COMT Val158Met polymorphism from peripheral blood sample, and evaluated with a semi‐structured interview in order to establish the history of cannabis abuse. Results showed a significant interaction effect between COMT polymorphism and cannabis use on verbal fluency and speed of processing. The analysis revealed significant differences between subjects COMT Val/Val homozygous and Met carriers with history of cannabis use, with a better performance on both tasks among the Met carriers group. These data are in line with literature on healthy subjects that suggests a more detrimental effect of cannabis among subjects with Val/Val genotype. In conclusions, results highlight the need to better disentangle the biological pathways in which cannabis use and COMT are converging, as possible treatment targets, as well as the importance to assess these factors in clinical to optimize individualized interventions. HighlightsCognition is a core feature of schizophrenia and is recognized as the most important predictor of functional outcome.The interplay between cannabis use and COMT Val158Met polymorphism on cognition in schizophrenia.A significant interaction effect between COMT polymorphism and cannabis use on verbal fluency and speed of processing.
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 3
- Cannabis and schizophrenia: A complex relationship Current Psychiatry December 1, 2023
- Does cannabis affect cognitive functioning in patients with schizophrenia? Schizophrenia Research: Cognition December 20, 2023
- Cannabis induced psychosis: a systematic review on the role of genetic polymorphisms. Pharmacological Research May 1, 2022
Cites 5
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- The interaction between cannabis use and the Val158Met polymorphism of the COMT gene in psychosis: A transdiagnostic meta – analysis PLoS One February 14, 2018
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- Is Cannabis Use a Contributory Cause of Psychosis? The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry August 1, 2006
- The psychotomimetic effects of intravenous delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in healthy individuals: implications for psychosis. Neuropsychopharmacology August 2004