Neuropsychological deficits in long-term frequent cannabis users.
The authors examined neuropsychological functioning in 20 long-term (LT), 20 shorter term (ST) heavy frequent cannabis users, and 24 controls after abstinence for > or =24 hours prior to testing. LT users performed significantly worse on verbal memory and psychomotor speed. LT and ST users had a higher proportion of deficits on verbal fluency, verbal memory, attention, and psychomotor speed. Specific cognitive domains appear to deteriorate with increasing years of heavy frequent cannabis use.
Messinis
Lambros
L
Department of Neurology, University Hospital Patras, Patras, Greece. lambros@hellasnet.gr
Kyprianidou
Anthoula
A
Malefaki
Sonia
S
Papathanasopoulos
Panagiotis
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D013060:Speech; D013997:Time Factors