Cannabis use worsened disorganized thinking in people at risk for psychosis but did not trigger transition to psychotic disorders
Among people showing early signs of psychosis risk, cannabis use was linked to worse disorganization symptoms but did not increase the rate of transition to full psychotic disorders over 2.5 years.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
In a community sample of 109 at-risk individuals and 197 controls from Sao Paulo, Brazil, cannabis use patterns did not differ between the two groups and did not predict transition to psychiatric disorders. However, among the at-risk group, cannabis use was significantly associated with more severe disorganization symptoms.
Key Numbers
109 at-risk individuals and 197 controls were followed for a mean of 2.5 years. No significant differences in lifetime, current, or maximum cannabis use between groups. Cannabis use significantly correlated with disorganization symptoms in the at-risk group.
How They Did This
Prospective cohort study drawing from the general population (non-help-seeking) with 2.5-year follow-up. Cannabis use was assessed with the South Westminster modified questionnaire. Transition to psychiatric disorders was tracked through reassessment.
Why This Research Matters
Most studies on cannabis and psychosis risk recruit from clinical settings. This study used a community sample of people not seeking help, providing a different perspective on how cannabis affects early psychosis risk in the general population.
The Bigger Picture
The finding that cannabis worsens specific symptom dimensions without accelerating full transition adds nuance to the cannabis-psychosis debate, suggesting the relationship may be more about symptom severity than triggering new disorders.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Relatively small sample size for transition analysis. Self-reported cannabis use. Community-based sample may have milder risk profiles than clinical populations. 2.5-year follow-up may be too short to capture all transitions.
Questions This Raises
- ?Why does cannabis specifically worsen disorganization rather than other symptom domains?
- ?Would longer follow-up reveal eventual transitions?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 109 at-risk individuals followed 2.5 years; no increase in transition to psychosis
- Evidence Grade:
- Prospective cohort with community sampling, though modest sample size limits transition analysis.
- Study Age:
- 2024 study
- Original Title:
- Cannabis use influences disorganized symptoms severity but not transition in a cohort of non-help-seeking individuals at-risk for psychosis from São Paulo, Brazil.
- Published In:
- Psychiatry research, 331, 115665 (2024)
- Authors:
- de Medeiros, Matheus Wanderley(2), Andrade, Julio Cesar(2), Haddad, Natalia Mansur(3), Mendonça, Melina, de Jesus, Leonardo Peroni, Fekih-Romdhane, Feten, van de Bilt, Martinus Theodorus, Gattaz, Wagner Farid, Loch, Alexandre Andrade
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05258
Evidence Hierarchy
Watches what happens naturally without intervening.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What are disorganization symptoms?
Disorganization refers to disordered thinking, speech, and behavior, such as jumping between unrelated topics, difficulty organizing thoughts, or behaving in ways that seem random or purposeless.
Does this mean cannabis is safe for people at risk of psychosis?
Not necessarily. Cannabis was associated with worse symptoms even if it did not trigger full transition in this study. The sample was small and follow-up relatively short.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05258APA
de Medeiros, Matheus Wanderley; Andrade, Julio Cesar; Haddad, Natalia Mansur; Mendonça, Melina; de Jesus, Leonardo Peroni; Fekih-Romdhane, Feten; van de Bilt, Martinus Theodorus; Gattaz, Wagner Farid; Loch, Alexandre Andrade. (2024). Cannabis use influences disorganized symptoms severity but not transition in a cohort of non-help-seeking individuals at-risk for psychosis from São Paulo, Brazil.. Psychiatry research, 331, 115665. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115665
MLA
de Medeiros, Matheus Wanderley, et al. "Cannabis use influences disorganized symptoms severity but not transition in a cohort of non-help-seeking individuals at-risk for psychosis from São Paulo, Brazil.." Psychiatry research, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115665
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis use influences disorganized symptoms severity but n..." RTHC-05258. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/de-2024-cannabis-use-influences-disorganized
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.