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Does cannabis affect cognitive functioning in patients with schizophrenia?
Hajar Rachid1,2,3, Zineb Saif4, Salma Raoui2,3
1Laboratory of Clinical Neuroscience and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco.
Schizophrenia Research. Cognition
|January 10, 2024
Summary
Cannabis use in schizophrenia patients impacts cognitive function differently. While it may impair psychomotor function, attention, and verbal memory, it appears to improve working memory, visual memory, and emotion recognition.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Cannabis use is known to impair cognitive performance in healthy individuals.
- However, some studies suggest potential cognitive benefits in schizophrenic patients.
- The specific effects on Moroccan schizophrenia patients remain underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of cannabis use on cognitive functions in Moroccan patients diagnosed with schizophrenia.
- To compare cognitive performance between schizophrenia patients who use cannabis and those who do not.
Main Methods:
- Recruited two groups from a Moroccan University Psychiatric Centre: 50 schizophrenia patients who use cannabis (SZ CANN+) and 49 who do not (SZ CANN-).
- Utilized the CogState neuropsychological battery to assess cognitive functioning.
- Diagnoses were confirmed according to DSM-V criteria.
Main Results:
- Schizophrenia patients not using cannabis (SZ CANN-) showed better performance in psychomotor function, attention, and verbal memory.
- Cannabis-using schizophrenia patients (SZ CANN+) demonstrated superior performance in working memory, visual memory, and emotional recognition.
- No significant differences were observed in executive function between the two groups.
Conclusions:
- Cannabis use in schizophrenia is associated with differential effects on neurocognitive functioning.
- Potential impairments in psychomotor function, attention, and verbal memory were noted.
- Potential improvements in working memory, visual memory, and emotion recognition were observed.
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