Publications

Authors:

Tosato, Sarah; Lasalvia, Antonio; Bonetto, Chiara; Mazzoncini, Rodolfo; Cristofalo, Doriana; DE SANTI, Katia; Bertani, Mariaelena; Bissoli, Sarah Saviana; Lazzarotto, L.; Marrella, Giovanna; Lamonaca, D.; Riolo, R.; Gardellin, F.; Urbani, A.; Tansella, Michele; Ruggeri, Mirella; PICOS VENETO, Group

Title:

The impact of cannabis use on age of onset and clinical characteristics in first-episode psychotic patients. Data from the Psychosis Incident Cohort Outcome Study (PICOS)

Year:

2013

Type of item:

Articolo in Rivista

Tipologia ANVUR:

Articolo su rivista

Language:

Inglese

Format:

A Stampa

Referee:

Sì

Name of journal:

Journal of Psychiatric Research

ISSN of journal:

0022-3956

N° Volume:

47

Page numbers:

438-444

Keyword:

Cannabis, Cohort Studies, Comorbidity, Depressive Disorder/epidemiology, Depressive Disorder/psychology, Female, Humans, Incidence, Italy/epidemiology, Male, Marijuana Abuse, Psychotic Disorders

Short description of contents:

Cannabis use is frequent among first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients and has been associated with several clinical features. This study aimed in an FEP sample to determine whether cannabis use is associated with (1) a higher level of positive symptoms, a lower level of depression and a better premorbid adjustment, (2) an earlier age of onset, and a better premorbid IQ. The study was conducted within the framework of the Psychosis Incident Cohort Outcome Study (PICOS), a multisite collaborative research on FEP patients who attended the psychiatric services in Veneto Region, Italy. Standardized instruments were used to collect sociodemographic, clinical, and drug use data. A total of 555 FEP patients met the inclusion criteria, 517 of whom received an ICD-10 diagnosis of psychosis; 397 (55% males; mean age: 32 yrs ± 9.5) were assessed. Out of these, 311 patients agreed to be interviewed on drug and alcohol misuse; 20.3% was positive for drug misuse: cannabis (19.0%), cocaine (3.9%), and hallucinogens (3.9%). Cannabis use was not associated with a higher level of positive symptoms, but correlated with less severe depressive symptoms. No relationship was observed between premorbid adjustment or IQ and cannabis use. FEP patients who used cannabis had an earlier age of onset than abstinent patients, even after adjusting for gender and diagnosis. Our results suggest a possible causal role of cannabis in triggering psychosis in certain vulnerable subjects. Particular attention must be paid to this behaviour, because reducing cannabis use can delay or prevent some cases of psychosis.

Web page:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022395612003512

Product ID:

78483

Handle IRIS:

11562/627570

Deposited On:

October 30, 2013

Last Modified:

November 11, 2022

Bibliographic citation:

Tosato, Sarah; Lasalvia, Antonio; Bonetto, Chiara; Mazzoncini, Rodolfo; Cristofalo, Doriana; DE SANTI, Katia; Bertani, Mariaelena; Bissoli, Sarah Saviana; Lazzarotto, L.; Marrella, Giovanna; Lamonaca, D.; Riolo, R.; Gardellin, F.; Urbani, A.; Tansella, Michele; Ruggeri, Mirella; PICOS VENETO, Group, The impact of cannabis use on age of onset and clinical characteristics in first-episode psychotic patients. Data from the Psychosis Incident Cohort Outcome Study (PICOS) «Journal of Psychiatric Research» , vol. 47 , 2013 , pp. 438-444

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