Search results for "Cannabis use"
showing 10 items of 31 documents
Cognitive functioning throughout adulthood and illness stages in individuals with psychotic disorders and their unaffected siblings
2021
The European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme under grant agreement No. HEALTH-F2-2010-241909 (EUGEI); The Spanish sample was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (SAM16PE07CP1, PI16/02012, PI19/024) (...)
IQ differences between patients with first episode psychosis in London and Palermo reflect differences in patterns of cannabis use.
2019
Aims: Cognitive impairment is a possible indicator of neurodevelopmental impairment, but not all psychotic patients are cognitively compromised. It has been suggested that heavy cannabis use may precipitate psychosis in those who show no such compromise. This study compares two samples of patients with first-episode psychosis and their respective non-psychotic controls, in London (UK) and Palermo (Italy), and examines whether different patterns of cannabis use are reflected in differences in IQ. Methods: The two studies used the same inclusion/exclusion criteria and instruments. The sample comprised 249 subjects from London (106 patients and 143 controls) and 247 subjects from Palermo (120 …
Differences in cannabis-related experiences between patients with a first episode of psychosis and controls
2016
BackgroundMany studies have reported that cannabis use increases the risk of a first episode of psychosis (FEP). However, only a few studies have investigated the nature of cannabis-related experiences in FEP patients, and none has examined whether these experiences are similar in FEP and general populations. The aim of this study was to explore differences in self-reported cannabis experiences between FEP and non-psychotic populations.MethodA total of 252 subjects, who met International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 criteria for FEP, and 217 controls who reported cannabis use were selected from the Genetics and Psychosis (GAP) study. The Medical Research Council Social Schedule and t…
Confirmation that the AKT1 (rs2494732) genotype influences the risk of psychosis in cannabis users.
2012
Background Cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of psychosis. One study has suggested that genetic variation in the AKT1 gene might influence this effect. Methods In a case-control study of 489 first-episode psychosis patients and 278 control subjects, we investigated the interaction between variation at the AKT1 rs2494732 single nucleotide polymorphism and cannabis use in increasing the risk of psychosis. Results The rs2494732 locus was not associated with an increased risk of a psychotic disorder, with lifetime cannabis use, or with frequency of use. We did, however, find that the effect of lifetime cannabis use on risk of psychosis was significantly influenced by the rs24947…
T110. FIRST EPISODE PSYCHOTIC PATIENTS WITH A HISTORY OF FREQUENT CANNABIS USE EXPRESS MORE POSITIVE SYMPTOMS AT ILLNESS ONSET THAN THOSE WHO NEVER U…
2018
Abstract Background Robust evidence has demonstrated that cannabis use increases the risk to develop psychotic disorders. However, a limited number of studies have investigated if and how cannabis use influences psychopathology profiles at first episode psychosis (FEP). Based on the evidence that dopamine dysfunction contributes to explain positive symptoms in psychosis, and that the main cannabis’ psychoactive component, Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), modulates the dopamine system, we hypothesise that: 1) positive symptoms at FEP are more common among psychotic patients who used cannabis compared with never users; 2) this association is a dose-response relationship. Methods We analyzed a s…
Role of individual, peer and family factors in the use of cannabis and other illicit drugs: A longitudinal analysis among Finnish adolescent twins
2008
Background: Although use of illicit drugs shows varying degree of heritability, the influence of shared and unique environmental factors predominate among adolescents. We explored factors predicting use of cannabis and other illicit drugs among Finnish adolescent twins. Methods: We used longitudinal data from the FinnTwin 12-17 study with baseline at age 11-12 and follow-up at ages 14 and 171/2, including 4138 individuals. The outcome was self-reported ever use of cannabis or other illicit drugs at age 171/2. The potential predictors were measures reported by the twins, their parents or teachers. As individual factors we tested smoking, alcohol use, behavioral and emotional problems; as pee…
Sex differences in bipolar disorder: Impact of lifetime cannabis use on clinical course, functioning, and quality of life in bipolar disorder.
2020
Cannabis use is markedly prevalent among patients with bipolar disorder (BD). However, to date, there have been no studies on this issue with a sex-based approach. This study examines if lifetime cannabis use (LCU) is differently associated with clinical course, functioning, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with BD by sex.Secondary analysis of a cross-sectional, naturalistic, multicentre study. LCU was defined as having had at least one day of use per month for at least 12 consecutive months in a patient's life.A total of 224 patients with BD were included (65.2% women). Patients with LCU were younger (p = 0.001) and had their first hospitalization earlier (p0.005) than those without L…
Adverse effects of heavy cannabis use: even plants can harm the brain.
2020
The spread of laws legalising cannabis for medicinal or recreational use has been accompanied by more relaxed attitudes towards cannabis. Data from the United States show that in states that have legalised cannabis, prevalence of daily, weekly, and monthly cannabis use was 11.3%, 18.3%, and 25.0% respectively, whereas in countries where it is still illegal, it was lower (7.4%, 11.6%, and 16.8% respectively). Evidence indicates a trend of increase among adolescents, a particular vulnerable category for the initiation of substance use. In parallel, we have seen the concentration of THC (D-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) in the cannabis sold both in the United States and in Europe rising and those typ…
Daily use of high-potency cannabis is associated with more positive symptoms in first-episode psychosis patients: The EU-GEI case-control study
2021
The work was supported by: Clinician Scientist Medical Research Council fellowship (project reference MR/M008436/1) to MDF; the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care South London at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to DQ; DFG Heisenberg professorship (no. 389624707) to UR. National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. The EU-GEI Project is funded by t…
Substance use, medication adherence and outcome one year following a first episode of psychosis
2016
Both substance use and poor medication adherence are associated with poor outcome in psychosis. To clarify the contributions of substance use and poor medication adherence to poor outcome in the year following a first episode of psychosis, 205 patients were evaluated for use of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis and stimulants at their psychosis onset, and in a 1-year follow-up. Data on medication adherence and symptom remission were also collected. Patients had high rates of overall substance use before (37-65%) and after psychosis onset (45-66%). 44% showed poor medication adherence and 55% did not reach remission from psychosis. Nicotine dependence and cannabis use after psychosis onset signific…