Does cannabis use predict psychometric schizotypy via aberrant salience?

O’Tuathaigh, Colm M. P.; Dawes, Christopher; Bickerdike, Andrea; Duggan, Eileen; O’Neill, Cian; Waddington, John L.; Moran, Paula M.

doi:10.1016/j.schres.2020.03.021

Cited by 11 publications

(20 citation statements)

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“…Analyses were conducted to replicate our previous findings between cannabis use and both schizotypy and aberrant salience ( 15 ) and to inform upcoming analyses of potential moderating variables. The results of parallel analysis Mann–Whitney U tests found that those who currently use cannabis had significantly higher levels of disorganised schizotypy (interpolated median = 6.000) compared to those who do not currently use cannabis (interpolated median = 3.967) at a small effect size ( p = 0.01, r rank − biserial = 0.196 [0.048, 0.335]).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The CEQmv was administered to collect information on history of cannabis use (including information such as age at first use, duration of use, frequency of use, type), as well as other recreational drugs including tobacco and alcohol ( 16 ). In the present analysis, measures of interest were: lifetime cannabis consumption (“ever vs. never”); current cannabis consumption (defined as frequent use of cannabis consumption during the previous 12 months; “current” vs. “other” comparison); frequency of use which referred to the most recent period of cannabis consumption (a six-level categorical response item: never, only once or twice, a few times each year, a few times each month, more than once a week, every day) ( 15 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies examining cognitive function in cannabis users have demonstrated deficits in measures of attentional processing that require selection of relevant from irrelevant content (23,(31)(32)(33). Similarly, cannabis use is associated with higher scores on the Aberrant Salience Inventory (ASI), a questionnaire designed to measure tendency towards assignment of salience to inconsequential stimuli (15,34). Disturbance in salience processing may, at least in part, mediate the link between frequency of cannabis use and preponderance of schizotypal traits (15).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similar deficits have been reported in individuals high in psychometrically identified schizotypy, a multidimensional construct with positive, negative, and disorganised symptom dimensions consistent with those described in schizophrenia ( 11 – 13 ). This has led to the suggestion that disturbance in salience allocation processes may mediate the link between neurobiological and psychological risk factors and emergence of psychotic symptoms ( 14 , 15 ). Aberrant salience has also been postulated to be central to our understanding of psychosis risk and mechanisms that contribute to the development of psychotic symptoms ( 3 , 6 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarly, cannabis use is associated with higher scores on the Aberrant Salience Inventory (ASI), a questionnaire designed to measure tendency towards assignment of salience to inconsequential stimuli ( 15 , 34 ). Disturbance in salience processing may, at least in part, mediate the link between frequency of cannabis use and preponderance of schizotypal traits ( 15 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cannabis Use, Schizotypy and Kamin Blocking Performance

et al. 2021

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Cannabis use has been associated with increased risk for a first episode of psychosis and inappropriate assignment of salience to extraneous stimuli has been proposed as a mechanism underlying this association. Psychosis-prone (especially schizotypal) personality traits are associated with deficits in associative learning tasks that measure salience allocation. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between history of cannabis use and Kamin blocking (KB), a form of selective associative learning, in a non-clinical sample. Additionally, KB was examined in relation to self-reported schizotypy and aberrant salience scale profiles. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 307 healthy participants with no previous psychiatric or neurological history. Participants were recruited and tested using the Testable Minds behavioural testing platform. KB was calculated using Oades' “mouse in the house task”, performance of which is disrupted in schizophrenia patients. Schizotypy was measured using the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ), and the Aberrant Salience Inventory (ASI) was used to assess self-reported unusual or inappropriate salience. The modified Cannabis Experience Questionnaire (CEQm) was used to collect detailed history of use of cannabis and other recreational drugs. Regression models and Bayesian t-tests or ANOVA (or non-parametric equivalents) examined differences in KB based on lifetime or current cannabis use (frequent use during previous year), as well as frequency of use among those who had previously used cannabis. Neither lifetime nor current cannabis use was associated with any significant change in total or trial-specific KB scores. Current cannabis use was associated with higher Disorganised SPQ dimension scores and higher total and sub-scale values for the ASI. A modest positive association was observed between total KB score and Disorganised SPQ dimension scores, but no relationships were found between KB and other SPQ measures. Higher scores on “Senses Sharpening” ASI sub-scale predicted decreased KB score only in participants who have not engaged in recent cannabis use. These results are discussed in the context of our understanding of the effects of long-term cannabis exposure on salience attribution, as well as inconsistencies in the literature with respect to both the relationship between KB and schizotypy and the measurement of KB associative learning phenomena.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%