Schizophrenia with heavy cannabis use showed different brain structure than cannabis-induced psychosis
Brain imaging revealed that schizophrenia patients with heavy cannabis use had thinner cortex than both cannabis-induced psychosis patients and healthy controls, suggesting these are structurally distinct conditions.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Schizophrenia with heavy cannabis use (SZC) showed the lowest cortical thickness, depth, and gyrification, followed by cannabis-induced psychosis (CIP), then healthy controls. SZC had significantly thinner cortex than controls in frontal regions and thinner than CIP in postcentral and frontal regions. Duration of cannabis use negatively correlated with cortical thickness in parietal and occipital areas.
Key Numbers
31 SZC, 28 CIP, 30 controls. SZC had reduced cortical thickness vs controls in middle/inferior frontal and other regions. SZC was also thinner than CIP in bilateral postcentral and right middle frontal regions.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional brain MRI study comparing 31 men with schizophrenia and heavy cannabis use, 28 with cannabis-induced psychosis, and 30 healthy controls. Surface-based brain morphometry using the CAT-12 toolbox with cortical parcellation.
Why This Research Matters
Distinguishing cannabis-induced psychosis from schizophrenia has important treatment implications. Different brain structural profiles support different underlying pathophysiology.
The Bigger Picture
The cortical thickness gradient (SZC < CIP < controls) suggests schizophrenia involves more severe structural brain changes than cannabis-induced psychosis, supporting the clinical distinction between these diagnoses.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Small sample size. All male participants. Cross-sectional design cannot determine whether brain differences preceded or resulted from cannabis use or illness. Only one imaging modality.
Questions This Raises
- ?Do CIP patients who later develop schizophrenia show intermediate cortical thickness?
- ?Could brain imaging help predict which CIP patients will progress to schizophrenia?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- SZC had significantly thinner cortex than both CIP and healthy controls
- Evidence Grade:
- Rigorous neuroimaging methodology with appropriate controls, but small sample size and cross-sectional design limit conclusions.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022.
- Original Title:
- Surface-based brain morphometry in schizophrenia vs. cannabis-induced psychosis: A controlled comparison.
- Published In:
- Journal of psychiatric research, 155, 286-294 (2022)
- Authors:
- Ghosh, Abhishek(6), Kaur, Simranjit, Shah, Raghav(3), Oomer, Fareed, Avasthi, Ajit, Ahuja, Chirag K, Basu, Debasish, Nehra, Ritu, Khandelwal, Niranjan
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03867
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Are cannabis-induced psychosis and schizophrenia the same condition?
This study suggests they are structurally different. Schizophrenia patients with cannabis use had significantly thinner cortex than cannabis-induced psychosis patients, indicating different levels of brain structural changes.
Did cannabis use duration affect brain structure?
Yes. Longer duration of cannabis use was correlated with thinner cortex in parietal and occipital regions, suggesting cumulative effects on brain structure.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03867APA
Ghosh, Abhishek; Kaur, Simranjit; Shah, Raghav; Oomer, Fareed; Avasthi, Ajit; Ahuja, Chirag K; Basu, Debasish; Nehra, Ritu; Khandelwal, Niranjan. (2022). Surface-based brain morphometry in schizophrenia vs. cannabis-induced psychosis: A controlled comparison.. Journal of psychiatric research, 155, 286-294. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.09.034
MLA
Ghosh, Abhishek, et al. "Surface-based brain morphometry in schizophrenia vs. cannabis-induced psychosis: A controlled comparison.." Journal of psychiatric research, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.09.034
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Surface-based brain morphometry in schizophrenia vs. cannabi..." RTHC-03867. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/ghosh-2022-surfacebased-brain-morphometry-in
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.