The relationship between cannabis use and cortisol levels in youth at ultra high-risk for psychosis
E. Carol, R. L. Spencer, V. Mittal
Psychoneuroendocrinology May 30, 2017 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.04.017 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 75 |
| Population | Adolescents at ultra high-risk (UHR) for psychotic disorders and healthy control adolescents |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | UHR adolescents showed elevated salivary cortisol compared with healthy controls, and UHR adolescents who currently used cannabis showed higher cortisol than both non-using UHR adolescents and controls. The authors suggest that cannabis use may interact with underlying biological vulnerability of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. |
Abstract
Recent studies have posited a relationship between cannabis use and the biological stress system, but this critical relationship has not been evaluated during the ultra high-risk (UHR) period immediately preceding the onset of psychotic disorders. Salivary cortisol samples were collected on 46 UHR and 29 control adolescents; these individuals were assessed for current cannabis use with a urine panel and self-report. UHR participants where separated into two groups: Current Cannabis Use (UHR-CU) and No Current Cannabis Use (UHR-NC). Healthy Control participants (HC) were free of cannabis use. Consistent with the literature, results indicate UHR individuals showed elevated cortisol levels when compared to HC participants. Further, we also observed that UHR-CU participants exhibited elevated levels when compared to both the non-using UHR and HC groups. Findings suggest that cannabis use may interact with underlying biological vulnerability associated with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis system.
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
Cites 6
- Cannabis and Psychosis: a Critical Overview of the Relationship. Current Psychiatry Reports February 1, 2016
- Prospective study of cannabis use in adolescents at clinical high risk for psychosis: impact on conversion to psychosis and functional outcome Psychological Medicine December 1, 2012
- Altered brain activation during visuomotor integration in chronic active cannabis users: relationship to cortisol levels. Journal of Neuroscience December 7, 2011
- The effects of cannabinoids on serum cortisol and prolactin in humans. Psychopharmacology May 2009
- Temporal Association of Cannabis Use with Symptoms in Individuals at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis Schizophrenia Research September 21, 2008
and 1 more in the library