Early cannabis use and its relation to the development of psychiatric disorders: a review
Carlos Roncero, Servicio de Psiquiatría Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Salamanca (causa) Instituto de Biomedicina de Salamanca (ibsal) Universidad de Salamanca Salamanca España., Raul Felipe Palma-álvarez, Víctor Barrau, Neide Urbano, Nieves Martínez‐Luna, María Bettina Ortiz-Medina, Constanza Daigre, Departamento de Psiquiatría Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona Barcelona España.
Salud Mental December 12, 2017 DOI: 10.17711/sm.0185-3325.2017.037 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Adolescents |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Citations | 11 |
| Key findings | Across 15 longitudinal studies, only five clearly distinguished early from late cannabis use onset. Early onset was associated with later mental disorders, particularly psychosis, while findings for affective and anxiety disorders were more controversial. The authors argue that adolescent cannabis prevention programs should be developed to lower the risk of mental disorders. |
Abstract
Background. Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug in the world. Both an early cannabis use onset and the amount used contribute to the risk of suffering mental disorders in adulthood. Objective. Review longitudinal studies conducted on adolescents associating early cannabis use with the subsequent occurrence of mental disorders. Method. A search was conducted in PubMed until December 2016, focusing on longitudinal researches and prioritizing studies that clearly distinguished between an early and late onset of cannabis use. To achieve the objective, the word “cannabis” was used in combination with the main psychiatric diseases. A manual search of articles that appeared in the references was also conducted. Results. Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria, but only five studies discriminated clearly between early and late onset of cannabis use. An association was found between early onset of cannabis use and mental disorders, particularly psychosis. The information regarding affective and anxiety disorders is more controversial. Discussion and conclusion. Early onset of cannabis use is associated with mental disorders, especially psychosis. Prevention plans for cannabis use in adolescents should be developed in order to decrease the risk of mental disorders.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effects of cannabis use on outcomes of psychotic disorders: systematic review People with psychotic disorders, as examined in 13 longitudinal studies | 2008 | Systematic review | |
| The Impact of Cannabis Use on Cognitive Functioning in Patients With Schizophrenia: A Meta-analysis of Existing Findings and New Data in a First-Episode Sample Patients with established schizophrenia (meta-analysis: 572) and patients with... | 2010 | Meta-analysis and cross-sectional observational study | n = 700 |
| Medicinal cannabis for psychiatric disorders: a clinically-focused systematic review | 2020 | Systematic review | |
| Neuroimaging in cannabis use: a systematic review of the literature Cannabis users and controls in neuroimaging studies | 2009 | Systematic review | |
| Human Laboratory Studies on Cannabinoids and Psychosis. Healthy human subjects and individuals with schizophrenia | 2016 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cites 10
- Continued cannabis use and risk of incidence and persistence of psychotic symptoms: 10 year follow-up cohort study BMJ March 1, 2011
- Cannabis use before age 15 and subsequent executive functioning The British Journal of Psychiatry May 31, 2011
- Human Laboratory Studies on Cannabinoids and Psychosis. Biological Psychiatry April 1, 2016
- The effect of cannabis on the brain: can it cause brain anomalies that lead to increased risk for schizophrenia? Current Opinion in Psychiatry March 1, 2008
- Association Between Cannabis and Psychosis: Epidemiologic Evidence. Biological Psychiatry April 1, 2016
and 5 more in the library