Cannabis use in first-episode psychosis overwhelmed the protective effects of cognitive reserve on functioning
In first-episode psychosis patients, cognitive reserve protected against poor clinical and functional outcomes only in non-cannabis users, suggesting cannabis use overwhelms the brain's built-in resilience.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Cognitive reserve was associated with better cognitive performance regardless of cannabis use. However, its protective effects on clinical and functional outcomes were seen only in non-cannabis users. Cannabis use appeared to override the protective effect of cognitive reserve on functioning at 2-year follow-up.
Key Numbers
CR predicted better outcomes only in non-cannabis users for both affective and non-affective psychosis. CR mediated cognition-functioning relationship only in non-users. Follow-up: 2 years.
How They Did This
Longitudinal study of first-episode psychosis patients (affective and non-affective) comparing cannabis users vs. non-users. Linear regression assessed cognitive reserve as predictor at baseline and 2-year follow-up. Mediation analyses explored cognitive reserve mediating the cognition-functioning relationship.
Why This Research Matters
Cognitive reserve is typically protective in brain disorders, but cannabis use appears to negate this protection in psychosis, suggesting cannabis effects on functional outcomes may be particularly difficult to buffer against.
The Bigger Picture
This finding has implications for prognosis: even high-functioning individuals with good cognitive reserve may not be protected from the functional impact of cannabis use during psychosis.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Small affective psychosis subgroup. Cannot determine if cannabis degrades cognitive reserve or blocks its expression. Cannabis use patterns (frequency, potency) not detailed.
Questions This Raises
- ?If patients stop cannabis use, does cognitive reserve regain its protective role?
- ?What mechanisms allow cannabis to override cognitive reserve?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Cognitive reserve protected functioning only in non-cannabis users with psychosis
- Evidence Grade:
- Longitudinal design with 2-year follow-up and appropriate mediation analyses, though subgroup sizes are limited.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022.
- Original Title:
- Is the effect of cognitive reserve in longitudinal outcomes in first-episode psychoses dependent on the use of cannabis?
- Published In:
- Journal of affective disorders, 302, 83-93 (2022)
- Authors:
- Amoretti, Silvia(5), Verdolini, Norma, Varo, Cristina, Mezquida, Gisela, Sánchez-Torres, Ana M, Vieta, Eduard, Garcia-Rizo, Clemente, Lobo, Antonio, González-Pinto, Ana, Abregú-Crespo, Renzo, Corripio, Iluminada, Serra, Maria, de la Serna, Elena, Mané, Anna, Ramos-Quiroga, J Antoni, Ribases, Marta, Cuesta, Manuel J, Bernardo, Miguel
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03673
Evidence Hierarchy
Follows a group of people over time to track how outcomes develop.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does cognitive reserve protect against poor outcomes in psychosis?
Only in non-cannabis users. For cannabis-using psychosis patients, cognitive reserve did not provide the expected protective effect on clinical and functional outcomes.
Did cannabis affect cognitive performance specifically?
No. Cognitive reserve was linked to better cognitive test performance regardless of cannabis use. The effect was specific to clinical and functional outcomes, not cognition itself.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03673APA
Amoretti, Silvia; Verdolini, Norma; Varo, Cristina; Mezquida, Gisela; Sánchez-Torres, Ana M; Vieta, Eduard; Garcia-Rizo, Clemente; Lobo, Antonio; González-Pinto, Ana; Abregú-Crespo, Renzo; Corripio, Iluminada; Serra, Maria; de la Serna, Elena; Mané, Anna; Ramos-Quiroga, J Antoni; Ribases, Marta; Cuesta, Manuel J; Bernardo, Miguel. (2022). Is the effect of cognitive reserve in longitudinal outcomes in first-episode psychoses dependent on the use of cannabis?. Journal of affective disorders, 302, 83-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.01.077
MLA
Amoretti, Silvia, et al. "Is the effect of cognitive reserve in longitudinal outcomes in first-episode psychoses dependent on the use of cannabis?." Journal of affective disorders, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.01.077
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Is the effect of cognitive reserve in longitudinal outcomes ..." RTHC-03673. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/amoretti-2022-is-the-effect-of
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.