title: No additive effect of cannabis on cognition in schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to examine the association between lifetime cannabis use and estimates of both premorbid and current cognitive function in psychotic disorders in an Australian cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  In an Australian multicenter cohort, 1237 participants with an established ICD-10 diagnosis of psychotic disorder were categorised according to history of lifetime cannabis use (non-users, n=354; cannabis users, n=221; cannabis dependency, n=662). Groups were analyzed according to available indices of cognitive ability: the National Adult Reading Test - Revised (NART-R) for ability prior to illness onset; and the Digit Symbol Coding Test (DSCT) for current ability. Two-way analysis of variance was conducted without any covariate, followed by a two-way analysis of covariance (using age, age at onset of psychiatric illness, premorbid IQ and the Socio-Economic Index for Areas (SEIFA) rankings).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Whilst there appeared to be a significant association between cannabis use and mean DSCT (higher DSCT scores in cannabis using groups) F(2,1080)=9.478, p<0.001, η2=0.017), once covariates were used in the analysis there were no significant differences between groups in mean DSCT scores (F(2,1011)=0.929, p=0.395, η2=0.002). Similarly there were no differences between groups in mean NART scores once, age, age at illness onset and SEIFA rankings were used as covariates (F(2,1032)=1.617, p=0.199, η2=0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Confounding variables underpin the association between cannabis use and cognitive function in psychotic disorders. Taken together, it would appear that cannabis use or dependence has no additive effect on cognitive dysfunction in these disorders.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine Fremantle, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Australia; South Metropolitan Area Health Service, Perth, Australia; Clinical Research Centre, North Metropolitan Health Service - Mental Health, Perth, Australia. Electronic address: briandiarmidpower@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Power
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Centre, North Metropolitan Health Service - Mental Health, Perth, Australia; School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, The University of Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dragovic
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, The University of Western Australia, Australia; Centre for Clinical Research in Neuropsychiatry, School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, The University of Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Johanna C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Badcock
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, The University of Western Australia, Australia; Centre for Clinical Research in Neuropsychiatry, School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, The University of Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Vera A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: St. Vincent's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Castle
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, The University of Western Australia, Australia; Centre for Clinical Research in Neuropsychiatry, School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, The University of Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Assen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jablensky
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Centre, North Metropolitan Health Service - Mental Health, Perth, Australia; School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, The University of Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Nikos C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Stefanis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002188:Cannabis; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
keywords: Cannabis; Cognition; Confounding; Psychosis; Schizophrenia