title: Cannabis use related to early psychotic onset: Role of premorbid function.
abstract: The present cross-sectional study investigates the relation between Cannabis and the development of a psychotic disorder. The main objective is to explore the relations between Cannabis use and psychosis onset, premorbid adjustment cognitive impairment and familiarity. Forty-three patients with a diagnosis of Psychotic Disorder were recruited and divided in two groups based on Cannabis use before onset: Cannabis-using patients (PCU, N=21) and Cannabis-free patients (PCF, N=22). Cognitive functioning was evaluated by Trail Making Test A and B (TMT), Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCF), and the Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT). Premorbid functioning was assessed retrospectively through the Premorbid Adjustment Scale (PAS). PCU group showed earlier onset of the psychotic disorder compared to PCF (p=0.008). This finding was not influenced by age or positive family history for psychiatric illness. PCU subjects showed a worse premorbid functioning respect to PCF and this difference was found to impact on the early onset in the PCU group. In conclusion the present study suggests the hypothesis of an interactive role of Cannabis and poor premorbid school adjustment in the development of psychotic disorders.
authors.affiliation: Neurology and Psychiatry Department, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: marianna.frascarelli@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frascarelli
authors.affiliation: Affective Disorder Unit, "A. Fiorini" Hospital, Terracina, Italy.
authors.forename: Adele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quartini
authors.affiliation: Affective Disorder Unit, "A. Fiorini" Hospital, Terracina, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tomassini
authors.affiliation: Affective Disorder Unit, "A. Fiorini" Hospital, Terracina, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Neurology and Psychiatry Department, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Daiana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zullo
authors.affiliation: Affective Disorder Unit, "A. Fiorini" Hospital, Terracina, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgiana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Manuali
authors.affiliation: Medical Sciences Department, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy; Neuropsychiatry Care Clinic "Villa von Siebenthal", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Filippis
authors.affiliation: Affective Disorder Unit, "A. Fiorini" Hospital, Terracina, Italy; Medical-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies Department, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bersani
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
keywords: Cannabis; Cognition; Onset; Psychosis; Schizophrenia