Compared to high and low cannabis use, moderate use is associated with fewer cognitive deficits in psychosis

Publication date: December 2016 Source:Schizophrenia Research: Cognition, Volume 6 Author(s): Ashley M. Schnakenberg Martin, Kelsey A. Bonfils, Beshaun J. Davis, Elizabeth A. Smith, Kelly Schuder, Paul H. Lysaker Literature on the relationship of cannabis use and cognition in schizophrenia provides the paradoxical view that cannabis use is sometimes linked with less severe impairment in neurocognition. This paper explored the possibility that this is a reflection of a dose related response between lifetime cannabis use and two forms of cognition, neurocognition and metacognition, in schizophrenia. It was hypothesized that three groups of patients could be differentiated, those with (1) little to no cannabis use with poor levels of cognition, (2) moderate cannabis use and relatively better levels of cognition and (3) high cannabis use with relatively poorer levels of cognition. Sixty-six adults with schizophrenia completed assessments of neurocognition, metacognition and months of lifetime cannabis use. Ak-means cluster analysis yielded three distinct groups based on these assessments. The clusters included: (1) low cannabis/poor cognition (n =34); (2) heavy cannabis/moderately impaired cognition (n =10); and (3) moderate cannabis/higher cognition (n =22). Consistent with our hypothesis, participants with high and moderate lifetime cannabis use had lesser impairment of neurocognition and metacognition compared to low lifetime cannabis use. Participants with moderate li...

Source: Schizophrenia Research: Cognition - October 10, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research