Effects of chronic, heavy cannabis use on executive functions.
Rebecca D Crean, Susan F Tapert, Arpi Minassian, Kai Macdonald, Natania A. Crane, Barbara J Mason
Journal of Addiction Medicine March 2011 DOI: 10.1097/adm.0b013e31820cdd57 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A cannabis-dependent individual entering a 12-week abstinence-based research program |
| Duration | 12-week abstinence-based research program; assessments at 24 hours, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks of abstinence |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Keywords | Cognitive impairment Executive functions Neuropsychological assessment |
| Key findings | The case illustrates the effects of chronic, heavy cannabis use on executive functions at 24 hours, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks of abstinence, with the authors noting that executive functions play a vital role in treatment participation and in sustaining recovery. The abstract does not state the direction or magnitude of any observed changes. |
Abstract
This case describes the clinical course of a cannabis-dependent individual entering a 12-week abstinence-based research program. The case illustrates the effects of chronic, heavy cannabis use on executive functions at three time points: 1) 24 hours of abstinence; 2) 4 weeks of abstinence; and 3) 12 weeks of abstinence. It is followed by discussions by two clinical psychologists and a psychiatrist. The findings described here have important clinical implications, as executive functions have a vital role in treatment participation and in sustaining recovery. It should be of particular interest to clinicians who work with people with cannabis use disorders.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychotic Reactions Following Cannabis Use in East Indians Patients at an Indian drug addiction clinic who developed acute cannabis-related psychosis | 1974 | Descriptive report (case series of clinical observations) | n = 200 |
| Psychiatric effects of cannabis use Swedish cases of cannabis psychosis | 1985 | Case series | n = 70 |
| Forty-Six Cases of Psychosis in Cannabis Abusers Gunila Bernhardson Habitual cannabis users treated for psychosis at Swedish psychiatric clinics and mental... | 1972 | Case series (retrospective survey of psychiatric records) | n = 46 |
| Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder after psilocybin consumption: a case study 18-year-old man with HPPD after mixed psilocybin and cannabis intoxication | 2005 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Cannabis‐induced Koro in Americans American men aged 22-26 with years of cannabis experience who reported negative... | 2001 | Case series | n = 3 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- The neuropsychopharmacology of cannabis: A review of human imaging studies Pharmacology & Therapeutics October 20, 2018
- Risks and Benefits of Cannabis and Cannabinoids in Psychiatry. American Journal of Psychiatry February 2022
- Altered attentional control strategies but spared executive functioning in chronic cannabis users. Drug and Alcohol Dependence December 1, 2017
- Effects of Adolescent Cannabinoid Self-Administration in Rats on Addiction-Related Behaviors and Working Memory. Neuropsychopharmacology April 2017
- Δ(9)Tetrahydrocannabinol impairs reversal learning but not extra-dimensional shifts in rhesus macaques. Neuroscience April 3, 2013
Cites 7
- Neuroimaging in cannabis use: a systematic review of the literature Psychological Medicine July 23, 2009
- Longitudinal study of cognition among adolescent marijuana users over three weeks of abstinence. Addictive Behaviors November 2010
- The influence of recency of use on fMRI response during spatial working memory in adolescent marijuana users. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs September 2010
- A study investigating the acute dose-response effects of 13 mg and 17 mg Delta 9- tetrahydrocannabinol on cognitive-motor skills, subjective and autonomic measures in regular users of marijuana. Journal of Psychopharmacology June 2008
- Abstinent adolescent marijuana users show altered fMRI response during spatial working memory. Psychiatry Research May 30, 2008
and 2 more in the library