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Emotional processing deficits in chronic cannabis use: a replication and extension
Chandni Hindocha1, Olivia Wollenberg, Virginia Carter Leno
1Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
Journal of Psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
|March 21, 2014
Summary
Heavy cannabis use impairs emotional face recognition. Chronic cannabis users showed generalized deficits in processing facial emotions, independent of gender or schizotypy.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
Background:
- Heavy cannabis use is linked to interpersonal difficulties, potentially due to altered emotional face perception.
- Previous research on emotional processing deficits in cannabis users is limited and findings are confounded by schizotypy and gender.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether heavy cannabis use is associated with impaired emotional facial affect processing.
- To determine if observed deficits are independent of schizotypy and gender differences.
Main Methods:
- Employed an independent groups design with 25 frequent cannabis users and 34 non-using controls.
- Participants identified emotions on morphed faces (neutral to 100% intensity) for six basic emotions.
- Measured accuracy (hit rate), sensitivity, and response bias; schizotypy assessed via the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire.
Main Results:
- Cannabis users exhibited significantly lower accuracy and sensitivity in emotional recognition compared to controls.
- No significant differences in gender or schizotypy levels were found between the groups.
- Emotional processing impairments in cannabis users persisted even after controlling for gender and schizotypy.
Conclusions:
- Chronic heavy cannabis use leads to generalized deficits in emotional processing.
- These impairments are distinct from potential deficits in men and are not attributable to schizotypy.
