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.
Department of Neurology, University Hospital Patras, Patras, Greece. lambros@hellasnet.gr
Lambros
L
Messinis
Anthoula
A
Kyprianidou
Sonia
S
Malefaki
Panagiotis
P
Papathanasopoulos
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