Psychotic experiences are linked to cannabis use in adolescents in the community because of common underlying environmental risk factors.
Cannabis users are more likely to have psychotic experiences (PEs). The degree to which these associations are driven by genetic or environmental influences in adolescence is unknown. This study estimated the genetic and environmental contributions to the relationship between cannabis use and PEs. Specific PEs were measured in a community-based twin sample (4830 16-year-old pairs) using self-reports and parent-reports. Adolescents reported on ever using cannabis. Multivariate liability threshold structural equation model-fitting was conducted. Cannabis use was significantly correlated with PEs. Modest heritability (37%), common environmental influences (55%) and unique environment (8%) were found for cannabis use. For PEs, modest heritability (27-54%), unique environmental influences (E=12-50%) and little common environmental influences (11-20%), with the exception of parent-rated Negative Symptoms (42%), were reported. Environmental influences explained all of the covariation between cannabis use and paranoia, cognitive disorganization and parent-rated negative symptoms (bivariate common environment=69-100%, bivariate unique environment=28-31%), whilst the relationship between cannabis use and hallucinations indicated familial influences. Cannabis use explains 2-5% of variance in positive, cognitive, and negative PEs. Cannabis use and psychotic experience co-occur due to environmental factors. Focus on specific environments may reveal why adolescent cannabis use and psychotic experiences tend to 'travel together'.
Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, UK. Electronic address: sania.shakoor@googlemail.com.
Sania
S
Shakoor
King׳s College London, MRC Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, UK.
Helena M S
HM
Zavos
King׳s College London, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, UK.
Philip
P
McGuire
Academic Unit of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, University of Leeds, UK.
Alastair G
AG
Cardno
Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, UK.
Daniel
D
Freeman
Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, UK.
Angelica
A
Ronald
D000293:Adolescent; D002188:Cannabis; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012931:Social Environment; D014427:Twins
Adolescence; Cannabis use; Genetics; Psychotic experiences; Twin study