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Cannabis and cognitive performance in psychosis: a cross-sectional study in patients with non-affective psychotic illness and their unaffected siblings

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 September 2011

J. H. Meijer ,
N. Dekker ,
M. W. Koeter ,
P. J. Quee ,
N. J. M. van Beveren  and
C. J. Meijer
J. H. Meijer
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
N. Dekker
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
M. W. Koeter
Affiliation:
Amsterdam Institute for Addiction Research (AIAR), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
P. J. Quee
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Rob Giel Research Center, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
N. J. M. van Beveren
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
C. J. Meijer
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Abstract

Background

The relationship between cannabis use and cognitive functioning in patients with psychosis has yielded contradictory findings. In individuals at genetic high risk for psychosis, information is sparse. The aim of this study was to assess the association between recency and frequency of cannabis use and cognitive functioning in patients with psychosis and their unaffected siblings.

Method

We conducted a cross-sectional study in 956 patients with non-affective psychosis, 953 unaffected siblings, and 554 control subjects. Participants completed a cognitive test battery including assessments of verbal learning, set shifting, sustained attention, processing speed, working memory, acquired knowledge, reasoning and problem solving and social cognition. Cannabis use was assessed by urinalysis and by the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Using random-effect regression models the main effects of cannabis (recency and frequency) and the interaction with status (patient, sibling, control) on cognitive functioning were assessed.

Results

Current cannabis use was associated with poorer performance on immediate verbal learning, processing speed and working memory (Cohen's d −0.20 to −0.33, p<0.005). Lifetime cannabis use was associated with better performance on acquired knowledge, facial affect recognition and face identity recognition (Cohen's d+0.17 to +0.33, p<0.005). There was no significant interaction between cannabis and status on cognitive functioning.

Conclusions

Lifetime cannabis-using individuals might constitute a subgroup with a higher cognitive potential. The residual effects of cannabis may impair short-term memory and processing speed.

Keywords

Genetic high riskmarijuananeuropsychologyrelativesschizophreniaΔ9-tetrahydrocannabinol
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 42 , Issue 4 , April 2012 , pp. 705 - 716
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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