Cannabis use and non-clinical dimensions of psychosis in university students presenting to primary care.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationship between cannabis use and self-reported dimensions of psychosis in a population of university students presenting for any reason to primary care.


METHODS
One thousand and forty-nine students attending the Student Health Unit, National University of Ireland, Galway, completed self-report questionnaires on alcohol and substance misuse, non-clinical dimensions of psychosis [Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE)], anxiety and depression [Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)]. Association of cannabis use with psychiatric symptoms was explored whilst controlling for confounds.


RESULTS
More frequent cannabis use was independently associated with greater intensity of positive, negative and depressive psychotic symptoms. The earlier the age of onset of cannabis use, the more positive psychotic symptoms were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support the hypotheses that cannabis use increases the risk of developing psychotic symptoms and that this risk is further increased in those individuals who use cannabis more heavily and commence it at a younger age.
Skinner
R
R
Department of Psychiatry, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
Conlon
L
L
Gibbons
D
D
McDonald
C
C
D017668:Age of Onset; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D036262:Empirical Research; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011605:Psychoses, Substance-Induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D013995:Time