The relationship between cannabis use and cortisol levels in youth at ultra high-risk for psychosis

Carol, Emily E.; Spencer, Robert L.; Mittal, Vijay A.

doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.04.017

Cited by 20 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 60 publications

(111 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The authors propose that this increased cortisol in MJ users may impair visuomotor function during psychomotor tasks, resulting in greater reliance on brain regions involved in attention and motor planning, such as the SFG. A recent study of adolescents at ultra-high risk for schizophrenia reported that youth who used MJ in the past month had higher levels of salivary cortisol than healthy controls, suggesting a potential link between risk for psychosis and HPA axis functioning ( 31 ). Previous research indicates high basal cortisol levels are associated with hypertension and obesity ( 40 ), as well as hippocampal atrophy and memory impairment in aging populations ( 41 ).…”

Section: Marijuana Use and Basal Hpa Axis Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Marijuana Use and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Functioning in Humans

2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Preclinical studies suggest cannabinoids affect functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, but little is known about the effects of marijuana (MJ) use on HPA axis functioning in humans. Since previous work indicates substances of abuse may dysregulate the HPA axis, it is critical to understand how MJ use affects HPA axis activity. Here, we review studies that (a) examined the effects of acute MJ administration on HPA axis functioning, (b) investigated the impact of stress on HPA axis functioning in MJ users, (c) examined the effect of chronic MJ use on basal cortisol levels, and (d) studied the relationship between MJ use and the cortisol awakening response (CAR). Findings indicate acute MJ administration typically raises cortisol levels, but this increase is blunted in MJ-dependent users relative to controls. Frequent MJ users have blunted adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol reactivity in response to acute stress. These findings suggest HPA axis activity may be dysregulated by heavy MJ use. Alternatively, dysregulation of the HPA axis may be a risk marker for heavy MJ use. There is mixed evidence for how MJ use affects basal cortisol levels and the CAR. Future studies should consider MJ use characteristics, method of hormone collection, time when samples are collected, and environmental factors that may influence HPA axis activity in MJ users. By examining existing studies we provide one of the first reviews aimed at synthesizing the literature on HPA axis functioning in MJ users.

show abstract

Section: Marijuana Use and Basal Hpa Axis Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Marijuana Use and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Functioning in Humans

2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These reductions in fitness may result from symptoms: negative symptoms reducing motivation for activity 25 , 26 , social anxiety leading to reduced social sports engagement 27 , or perceived barriers to exercise 11 . Additionally, CHR individuals engage in behaviors that may decrease fitness, such as cannabis use 28 , 29 and nicotine use 28 . In contrast, several studies have suggested that this does not translate into lower levels of biometric fitness, stating instead that CHR individuals have a normative range of body mass index (BMI; 1–4) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychosis risk individuals show poor fitness and discrepancies with objective and subjective measures

Damme

Sloan

Bartels

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Exercise is a promising intervention for individuals at clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHR). However, these youth may not be reliable reporters on fitness. There have been no investigations that utilized objective fitness assessment in this population. The present study objectively characterizes the level of fitness in CHR youth, compares the accuracy of self-report measures to objective fitness indices, and explores clinical factors that may influence the accuracy of self-reported measures of fitness. Forty CHR individuals completed an exercise survey and objective indices of fitness (i.e., VO2max and BMI). Forty healthy volunteers completed objective indices of fitness and a structured clinical interview ruling out the presence of psychiatric illness. CHR youth showed greater BMI and lowered VO2max compared to healthy volunteers. In the CHR group, self-report items (perceived fitness) did not reflect objective indices of fitness, whereas specific exercise behaviors (intensity of exercise) showed stronger correlations with objective fitness measurements. Exploratory analyses suggested that symptoms (grandiosity and avolition) related to errors in self-perception. Results indicate that CHR individuals are less fit than controls as indexed by objective measures of fitness and that it is important to consider unique population clinical characteristics when employing self-report data.

show abstract

“…Of note, a recent investigation of adversity exposure patterns in 57 CVHs and 45 NVCHs found that whilst exposure to sexual and non-sexual victimisation, discrimination and socio-economic disadvantage did not differ between groups, there was a significant difference in family history of psychosis, as well as cannabis and other substance use ( Baumeister et al, 2020 ). Cannabis use is associated with exacerbated HPA activity in youths at high risk for psychosis ( Carol et al, 2017 ), suggesting that a potential source of divergence in the HPA trajectories could be related to dispositional factors as well as maladaptive interaction effects with cannabis use in adolescence.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychophysiological stress-reactivity in clinical and non-clinical voice-hearers

Baumeister

Pillinger

Howes

et al. 2021

Schizophrenia Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Psychosis is associated with dysregulation of psychophysiological stress-reactivity, including in subjective, autonomic nervous system (ANS) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) parameters. Aims This study investigated whether dysregulated psychophysiological stress-reactivity is specifically associated with auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) or psychosis more generally by comparing voice-hearers with and without a need for care. Method Clinical ( n = 20) and non-clinical voice-hearers ( n = 23), as well as a healthy control group with no voices (n = 23), were compared on HPA and ANS responses, and subjective reactivity, to a psychophysiological stress paradigm, the socially evaluative cold pressor test. Results Measures of HPA function in both clinical and non-clinical voice-hearers diverged from non-voice-hearing controls. Clinical participants showed a blunted peak response compared to both non-clinical groups ( p = 0.02), whilst non-clinical voice-hearers showed, at trend-level, reduced cortisol levels during stress exposure compared to both clinical voice-hearers ( p = 0.07) and healthy controls (p = 0.07), who unexpectedly did not differ from each other ( p = 0.97). Clinical participants showed greater subjective stress levels than both non-clinical groups ( p < 0.001), as well as greater anticipatory stress ( p = 0.001) and less recovery. There were no differences between groups on parameters of the ANS (all p > 0.05). Conclusions Dysregulated psychophysiological stress-function is present in clinical voice-hearers, and partially discriminates them from non-clinical voice-hearers. Overall, the present findings identified specific potential psychophysiological markers of risk and resilience in auditory verbal hallucinations and need for care.

show abstract

The relationship between cannabis use and cortisol levels in youth at ultra high-risk for psychosis

Cited by 20 publications

References 60 publications

Marijuana Use and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Functioning in Humans

Marijuana Use and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Functioning in Humans

Psychosis risk individuals show poor fitness and discrepancies with objective and subjective measures

Psychophysiological stress-reactivity in clinical and non-clinical voice-hearers

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About