Study Finds Cannabis Use Linked to Higher Cognitive Scores in Patients With Psychotic Disorders
- The study published in Pathophysiology found that cannabis use was associated with higher cognitive performance in individuals with psychotic disorders, challenging previous assumptions about marijuana’s negative impact on cognition in this group.
- Researchers assessed 105 psychotic disorder inpatients using cognitive and psychopathology scales, including the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), finding that cannabis users had better cognitive scores than non-users.
- Cannabis users tended to be younger males with an earlier onset of psychosis, and daily users showed the strongest cognitive performance among the group.
- The study highlights the need for further research considering factors like dosage, frequency, and THC-to-CBD ratios to fully understand cannabis’s effects on cognition in people with psychotic disorders.
A study published in Pathophysiology reports that cannabis use was associated with higher cognitive performance among individuals diagnosed with psychotic disorders, challenging common assumptions about marijuana’s impact on cognition in this population. The research was conducted by scientists from the “Mother Teresa” University Hospital Center in Tirana, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Reykjavik University and Link Campus University. Researchers examined 105 inpatients with psychotic disorders, with an average age of 40.3 years, including 34 females.
Participants underwent a series of clinical and cognitive assessments. Cognitive functioning was measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Psychopathology was evaluated through multiple standardized tools, including the Brief Negative Symptom Scale, the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia, the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales and the Scale for the Assessment of Thought, Language, and Communication.
According to the findings, individuals who used cannabis were more likely to be male, younger and to have experienced an earlier onset of psychosis compared to non-users. Despite concerns that marijuana use may worsen cognitive impairment, cannabis users demonstrated higher MoCA scores overall. The strongest cognitive performance was observed among daily users.
The authors note that cannabis use is especially prevalent among individuals with psychotic disorders, and prior research has generally linked marijuana use to cognitive deficits in the broader population. However, this study found an unexpected association between cannabis use and preserved cognitive functioning in people with psychosis.
Researchers caution that factors such as dosage, frequency of use and cannabinoid composition — including the THC-to-CBD ratio — should be considered when interpreting these findings. They state that further research is needed to better understand how marijuana affects cognition in individuals with psychotic disorders.