scholarly journals Cannabis use and nonuse in patients with first-episode psychosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing neurocognitive functioning

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Sánchez-Gutiérrez ◽  
Belén Fernandez-Castilla ◽  
Sara Barbeito ◽  
Ana González-Pinto ◽  
Juan Antonio Becerra-García ◽  
...  

Abstract Background. The implications of cannabis use in the onset of early psychosis and the severity of psychotic symptoms have resulted in a proliferation of studies on this issue. However, few have examined the effects of cannabis use on the cognitive symptoms of psychosis (i.e., neurocognitive functioning) in patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP). This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to assess the neurocognitive functioning of cannabis users (CU) and nonusers (NU) with FEP. Methods. Of the 110 studies identified through the systematic review of 6 databases, 7 met the inclusion criteria, resulting in 14 independent samples and 78 effect sizes. The total sample included 304 CU with FEP and 369 NU with FEP. The moderator variables were age at first use, duration of use, percentage of males, and age. Results. Effect sizes were not significantly different from zero in any neurocognitive domain when users and NU were compared. Part of the variability in effect sizes was explained by the inclusion of the following moderator variables: (1) frequency of cannabis use (β = 0.013, F = 7.56, p = 0.017); (2) first-generation antipsychotics (β = 0.019, F = 34.46, p ≤ 0.001); and (3) country where the study was carried out (β = 0.266, t = 2.06, p = 0.043). Conclusions. This meta-analysis indicates that cannabis use is not generally associated with neurocognitive functioning in patients with FEP. However, it highlights the deleterious effect of low doses of cannabis in some patients. It also stresses the importance of the type of antipsychotic prescription and cannabis dose as moderator variables in the neurocognitive functioning of CU with FEP.

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 991-1001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olesya Ajnakina ◽  
Brendon Stubbs ◽  
Emma Francis ◽  
Fiona Gaughran ◽  
Anthony S. David ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundReducing hospitalisation and length of stay (LOS) in hospital following first episode psychosis (FEP) is important, yet reliable measures of these outcomes and their moderators are lacking. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the proportion of FEP cases who were hospitalised after their first contact with services and the LOS in a hospital during follow-up.MethodsStudies were identified from a systematic search across major electronic databases from inception to October 2017. Random effects meta-analyses and meta-regression analyses were conducted.Results81 longitudinal studies encompassing data for 23 280 FEP patients with an average follow-up length of 7 years were included. 55% (95% CI 50.3–60.5%) of FEP cases were hospitalised at least once during follow-up with the pooled average LOS of 116.7 days (95% CI 95.1–138.3). Older age of illness onset and being in a stable relationship were associated with a lower proportion of people who were hospitalised. While the proportion of hospitalised patients has not decreased over time, LOS has, with the sharpest reduction in the latest time period. The proportion of patients hospitalised during follow-up was highest in Australia and New Zealand (78.4%) compared to Europe (58.1%) and North America (48.0%); and lowest in Asia (32.5%). Black ethnicity and longer duration of untreated psychosis were associated with longer LOS; while less severe psychotic symptoms at baseline were associated with shorter LOS.ConclusionOne in two FEP cases required hospitalisation at least once during a 7-year follow-up with an average length of hospitalisation of 4 months during this period. LOS has declined over time, particularly in those countries in which it was previously longest.


2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 499-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Stone ◽  
H. L. Fisher ◽  
B. Major ◽  
B. Chisholm ◽  
J. Woolley ◽  
...  

BackgroundCannabis use has been reported to be associated with an earlier onset of symptoms in patients with first-episode psychosis, and a worse outcome in those who continue to take cannabis. In general, studies have concentrated on symptoms of psychosis rather than mania. In this study, using a longitudinal design in a large naturalistic cohort of patients with first-episode psychosis, we investigated the relationship between cannabis use, age of presentation to services, daily functioning, and positive, negative and manic symptoms.MethodClinical data on 502 patients with first-episode psychosis were collected using the MiData audit database from seven London-based Early Intervention in psychosis teams. Individuals were assessed at two time points – at entry to the service and after 1 year. On each occasion, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Young Mania Rating Scale and Global Assessment of Functioning Scale disability subscale were rated. At both time points, the use of cannabis and other drugs of abuse in the 6 months preceding each assessment was recorded.ResultsLevel of cannabis use was associated with a younger age at presentation, and manic symptoms and conceptual disorganization, but not with delusions, hallucinations, negative symptoms or daily functioning. Cannabis users who reduced or stopped their use following contact with services had the greatest improvement in symptoms at 1 year compared with continued users and non-users. Continued users remained more symptomatic than non-users at follow-up.ConclusionsEffective interventions for reducing cannabis use may yield significant health benefits for patients with first-episode psychosis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1021-1031 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suat Kucukgoncu ◽  
Urska Kosir ◽  
Elton Zhou ◽  
Erin Sullivan ◽  
Vinod H. Srihari ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Quattrone ◽  
Ulrich Reininghaus ◽  
Alex L. Richards ◽  
Giada Tripoli ◽  
Laura Ferraro ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundDiagnostic categories within the psychosis spectrum are widely used in clinical practice, however psychosis may occur on a continuum. Therefore, we explored whether the continuous distribution of psychotic symptoms across categories is a function of genetic as well as environmental risk factors, such as polygenic risk scores (PRSs) and cannabis use.MethodsAs part of the EU-GEI study, we genotyped first episode psychosis patients (FEP) and population controls, for whom transdiagnostic dimensions of psychotic symptoms or experiences were generated using item response bi-factor modelling. Linear regression was used, separately in patients and controls, to test the associations between these dimensions and schizophrenia (SZ) PRSs, as well as the combined effect of SZ-PRS and cannabis use on the positive symptom/experience dimensions.ResultsSZ-PRS was associated with negative (B=0.18; 95%CI 0.03 to 0.34) and positive (B=0.19; 95%CI 0.03 to 0.36) symptom dimensions in 617 FEP, and with all the psychotic experience dimensions in 979 controls. The putative effect of SZ-PRS on either symptom or experience dimensions was of a small magnitude. Cannabis use was additionally associated with the positive dimensions both in FEP (B=0.31; 95%CI 0.11 to 0.52) and in controls (B=0.26; 95%CI 0.06 to 0.46), independently from SZ-PRS.ConclusionsWe report two validators to the latent dimensional structure of psychosis. SZ risk variants and cannabis use independently map onto specific dimensions, contributing to variation across the psychosis continuum. Findings support the hypothesis that psychotic experiences have similar biological substrates as clinical disorders.


2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 347-347
Author(s):  
B. Schimmelmann ◽  
S. Cotton ◽  
P. Conus ◽  
S. Kupferschmid ◽  
P. McGorry ◽  
...  

ObjectivePrevious studies on the impact of cannabis use disorders (CU) on outcome in psychosis were mostly based on non-representative samples, have often not controlled for confounders and rarely focused on adolescents. Thus, the aims of the present study were to assess;(i) prevalence of CU;(ii) pre-treatment and baseline differences between CU and those without CU (NCU); and(iii) the impact of baseline and course of CU on 18-month outcomes in a representative cohort of adolescents with early onset first episode psychosis (EOP).MethodThe sample comprised 99 adolescents (age 14 to 18) with EOP (onset age 14 to 17), admitted to the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre in Australia. Data were collected from medical files using a standardized questionnaire.ResultsPrevalence of lifetime CU was 65.7%, baseline CU 53.5%, and persistent CU 26.3%. Baseline CU compared to NCU was associated with higher illness-severity, lower functioning, less insight, lower premorbid functioning and longer duration of untreated psychosis. Compared to both NCU and those who decreased or stopped CU during treatment, only persistent CU was linked to worse outcomes and more service disengagement. Effect sizes were medium controlling for relevant confounders. Medication non-adherence did not explain the link between persistent CU and worse outcome.ConclusionsThe prevalence of CU in adolescents with EOP is high, while only persistent CU use was associated with worse outcome with medium effect sizes. Specific needs of adolescent patients with respect to cannabis interventions within integrated care settings should be addressed in future studies.


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