title: Cannabis use and subclinical positive psychotic experiences in early adolescence: findings from a Dutch survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association between early cannabis use and subclinical psychotic experiences, distinguishing between five levels of use: never used, discontinued use (life-time users who did not use in the preceding year), experimental use, regular use and heavy use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dutch Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, 2005 wave.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 4552 secondary school children aged 12-16 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cannabis use, Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) positive scale, confounding factors: age, gender, family affluence, household composition, social support, alcohol use, cigarette smoking, ethnicity and urbanicity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The association between cannabis use and subclinical positive symptoms was confirmed, and remained significant after extensive adjustment for potential confounders. Associations were found for all user groups, with strongest associations for the discontinued use group (β = 0.061, P = 0.000) and for the heavy use group (β = 0.065, P = 0.000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is an enduring association between cannabis use at an early age and subclinical positive psychotic experiences, even after abstaining from cannabis for at least 1 year.
authors.affiliation: Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Psychiatry, the Netherlands. w.vanGastel@umcutrecht.nl
authors.forename: Willemijn A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: van Gastel
authors.forename: Johanna T W
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Wigman
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Monshouwer
authors.forename: René S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Os
authors.forename: Marco P M
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Boks
authors.forename: Wilma A M
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Vollebergh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors