title: Cannabis abuse is associated with better emotional memory in schizophrenia: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study.
abstract: In schizophrenia cannabis abuse/dependence is associated with poor compliance and psychotic relapse. Despite this, the reasons for cannabis abuse remain elusive, but emotions may play a critical role in this comorbidity. Accordingly, we performed a functional magnetic resonance imaging study of emotional memory in schizophrenia patients with cannabis abuse (dual-diagnosis, DD). Participants comprised 14 DD patients, 14 non-abusing schizophrenia patients (SCZ), and 21 healthy controls (HC) who had to recognize positive and negative pictures while being scanned. Recognition of positive and negative emotions was prominently impaired in SCZ patients, relative to HC, while differences between DD and HC were smaller. For positive and negative stimuli, we observed significant activations in frontal, limbic, temporal and occipital regions in HC; in frontal, limbic and temporal regions in DD; and in temporal, parietal, limbic and occipital regions in the SCZ group. Our results suggest that emotional memory and prefrontal lobe functioning are preserved in DD relative to SCZ patients. These results are consistent with previous findings showing that cannabis abuse is associated with fewer negative symptoms and better cognitive functioning in schizophrenia. Longitudinal studies will need to determine whether the relative preservation of emotional memory is primary or secondary to cannabis abuse in schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche Fernand-Seguin, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Josiane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bourque
authors.forename: Adrianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mendrek
authors.forename: Myriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Durand
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lakis
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lipp
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stip
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lalonde
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grignon
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Potvin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D059907:Functional Neuroimaging; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
keywords: Cannabis; Emotional memory; Functional imaging; Schizophrenia