Rationale: Cognitive deficits are commonly found both in patients with schizophrenia (SCH) and in people with cannabis use disorders (CUD). Surprisingly, some small recent studies reported better cognitive performance in SCH patients with comorbid cannabis use disorders (SCH + CUD) compared to other SCH patients.
Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the residual impact of CUD and specific patterns of consumption on cognition in a larger sample of SCH + CUD patients.
Methods: We administered a cognitive test battery to 34 SCH and 35 currently abstinent SCH + CUD patients. We explored the association between patterns of cannabis consumption and cognitive performance. Potential confounds with influence on cognitive ability were assessed and controlled for.
Results: SCH + CUD patients had poorer academic achievements and lower vocabulary scores, but they performed better in tests of verbal and working memory, visuomotor speed and executive function (p < .05). More frequent cannabis use was associated with better performance in attention and working memory tasks.
Conclusions: Although our findings might be interpreted as beneficial effect of cannabis use on cognition in patients with schizophrenia, we favorise an alternative interpretation: in our view, the better cognitive functioning of SCH + CUD patients may rather reflect a relatively lower vulnerability to psychosis compared to the SCH group. Lower vulnerability may correspond to a higher level of functioning such as cognitive ability. This conclusion is consistent with the view of cannabis playing a critical role in the manifestation of psychosis in at least some of the SCH + CUD patients.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00213-009-1512-9 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Cross-university dialogues to support multicultural school consultation training.
J Sch Psychol
August 2020
San Diego State University, United States of America.
There is a growing need for school psychologists to build multicultural knowledge, skills, values, and dispositions to serve increasingly diverse student, teacher, and caregiver populations in schools. The purpose of this study was to investigate the process and outcomes of a cross-university dialogue (CUD) activity for 88 school psychologist trainees enrolled in consultation courses, across three school psychology training programs, over three years. The CUD involved partnering with a peer or peers from another training program, individually and then collaboratively completing a case study activity, and writing a guided reflection exercise.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInhibition of return (IOR) in patients with schizophrenia and cannabis use.
Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry
March 2019
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LVR-Hospital Cologne, Wilhelm-Griesinger Str. 23, 51109 Cologne, Germany.
Research concerning the spatial orientation in patients with schizophrenia has demonstrated a state independent deficit in inhibition of return (IOR), which has been discussed as a vulnerability marker for schizophrenia. Other recent investigations on brain structure and cognitive processing have revealed less deficits in schizophrenia patients with comorbid cannabis use (SCH + CUD) compared to abstinent schizophrenia patients (SCH). It was hypothesized that these results may reflect a premorbid lower vulnerability in at least a subgroup of comorbid patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe role of cannabis in cognitive functioning of patients with schizophrenia.
Psychopharmacology (Berl)
July 2009
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50924, Cologne, Germany.
Rationale: Cognitive deficits are commonly found both in patients with schizophrenia (SCH) and in people with cannabis use disorders (CUD). Surprisingly, some small recent studies reported better cognitive performance in SCH patients with comorbid cannabis use disorders (SCH + CUD) compared to other SCH patients.
Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the residual impact of CUD and specific patterns of consumption on cognition in a larger sample of SCH + CUD patients.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!