The neuropsychology of cannabis and other substance use in schizophrenia: review of the literature and critical evaluation of methodological issues.
Carissa M Coulston, Michael Perdices, Christopher C Tennant
The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry November 2007 DOI: 10.1080/00048670701634952 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | Argues that research on substance use and cognition in schizophrenia is sparse and unevenly distributed across substances, with cannabis especially understudied despite being the most commonly used illicit drug in this population and contributing uniquely to schizophrenia onset and prognosis. The authors contend that existing studies suffer from methodological limitations and uncontrolled confounding variables, and they propose directions for future research. |
Abstract
Research on the neuropsychology of substance use in schizophrenia has been steadily growing over the past decade. However, significant gaps remain in the knowledge of individual substances and their relationship to cognition in the schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Approximately 65 studies to date have directly examined this relationship. Of these, approximately 20 have focused on nicotine, 15 on alcohol, 10 on cocaine, three on stimulants/hallucinogens, one on benzodiazepines, 10 on polydrug abuse, and seven on cannabis. Research on cannabis is especially lacking, given that worldwide it is the most commonly used illicit drug in schizophrenia, is used at higher rates in schizophrenia than in the general population, and makes its own unique contribution to the onset and prognosis of schizophrenia. In the present paper an overview of the neuropsychology literature on substance use in schizophrenia is presented, with special emphasis on cannabis. This incorporates a discussion of the methodological limitations inherent in these studies, and range of potential confounding variables that were not considered or controlled, providing directions for future research into the cognitive correlates of cannabis and other substance use in schizophrenia.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Causal association between cannabis and psychosis: examination of the evidence | 2004 | Review | |
| Cannabis sativa: A comprehensive ethnopharmacological review of a medicinal plant with a long history. General (historical and pharmacological review) | 2018 | Review | |
| Psychiatric effects of cannabis | 2001 | Review | |
| Beyond THC: The New Generation of Cannabinoid Designer Drugs | 2011 | Review | |
| Cannabidiol, a Cannabis sativa constituent, as an antipsychotic drug | 2006 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- 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 Schizophrenia Bulletin July 25, 2010
- Cannabis use and cognition in schizophrenia Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2009
- Cannabis use and cognitive dysfunction Indian Journal of Psychiatry 2011
- Effects of Extended Cannabis Abstinence on Cognitive Outcomes in Cannabis Dependent Patients with Schizophrenia vs Non-Psychiatric Controls. Neuropsychopharmacology October 2017
- Cannabis and cognitive performance in psychosis: a cross-sectional study in patients with non-affective psychotic illness and their unaffected siblings. Psychological Medicine April 2012
Cites 9
- Causal association between cannabis and psychosis: examination of the evidence The British Journal of Psychiatry January 30, 2004
- Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol effects in schizophrenia: implications for cognition, psychosis, and addiction. Biological Psychiatry March 15, 2005
- The psychotomimetic effects of intravenous delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in healthy individuals: implications for psychosis. Neuropsychopharmacology August 2004
- Effects of smoking marijuana on brain perfusion and cognition. Neuropsychopharmacology June 2002
- Different effects of nabilone and cannabidiol on binocular depth inversion in Man. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior May 2000
and 4 more in the library