https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881117711920
Journal of Psychopharmacology
1–11
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The Author(s) 2017
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DOI: 10.1177/0269881117711920
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Introduction
Cannabis-induced psychosis (CIPD) is one clinical entity asso-
ciated with cannabis consumption (Mathias et al., 2008). The
prevalence and aetiology of this disorder is still unknown and
scarce research has been carried out, mainly due to the evanes-
cence characteristics of their symptoms (American Psychiatric
Association, 1994). The association of this disorder with schiz-
ophrenia has not yet been clarified. CIPD, frequently found in
relatives of patients with schizophrenia and the potential risk
for developing schizophrenia in some patients with CIPD, has
led some authors to consider CIPD as an early sign of schizo-
phrenia (Arendt et al., 2008). More specifically, previous stud-
ies found that almost half of the patients diagnosed with CIPD
later developed a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (Arendt
et al., 2005). However, more recent results indicated that there
is still scarce evidence supporting the fact that patients with
CIPD will present a greater risk of transition from brief psy-
chotic episodes to schizophrenia compared with those who do
not use cannabis (Manrique-Garcia et al., 2012). One reason
that could explain these contradictory results might be the
Psychological symptomatology and impaired
prepulse inhibition of the startle reflex are
associated with cannabis-induced psychosis
Isabel Morales-Muñoz
1,2
, Isabel Martínez-Gras
2,3,4,5
,
Guillermo Ponce
2,3,4,5
, Javier de la Cruz
2,3
, David Lora
6,7
,
Roberto Rodríguez-Jiménez
2,3,4,8
, Rosa Jurado-Barba
2,3,8
,
Francisco Navarrete
5,9
, María Salud García-Gutiérrez
5,9
,
Jorge Manzanares
5,9
and Gabriel Rubio
2,3,4,5
Abstract
Background: Cannabis-induced psychotic disorder (CIPD) is a psychiatric disorder induced by cannabis consumption. The psychological and
psychophysiological features of this disorder are still unknown. We aimed to examine the psychological, personality and psychophysiological features
of patients with CIPD. This study is an analytical extension of our previously published data, which previously found prepulse inhibition (PPI) deficits
in the CIPD group used in this current paper.
Methods: We used a sample of 45 patients with CIPD. After 9 months of follow up, these patients were assessed with a Symptom Checklist-90-R
(SCL-90-R) questionnaire of psychopathology, with the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, and with a psychophysiological paradigm of inhibition of
the startle reflex (PPI). These results were compared with a group of patients with schizophrenia and cannabis abuse (SCHZ) (n = 54); patients with
cannabis dependence (CD) (n = 21); and healthy controls (n = 50).
Results: CIPD patients obtained significant higher scores in the SCL-90-R subscale of neuroticism. These patients showed PPI percentages similar to
SCHZ patients within early attentional levels (30 ms). The variables with greater correlation, and that appeared in the CIPD group were interpersonal
sensitivity, depression and phobia.
Conclusions: Neurotic symptomatology and difficulties in inhibition of the startle reflex might be risk factors for developing CIPD.
Keywords
Cannabis-induced psychotic disorder, psychology, prepulse inhibition, sensory gating
1
Department of Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL),
Helsinki, Finland
2
Research Institute 12-i, Madrid, Spain
3
Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
4
Department of Psychiatry, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid,
Spain
5
Red temática de Investigación cooperativa en salud (RETIS-Trastornos
adictivos), Instituto Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, Madrid, Spain
6
Clinical Research Unit (i+12), Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre,
Madrid, Spain
7
CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
8
Biomedical Research Center Network for Mental Health (CIBERSAM),
Madrid, Spain
9
Institute for Neurosciences, Miguel Hernández University-CSIC,
Alicante, Spain
Corresponding author:
Isabel Morales-Muñoz, Department of Health. National Institute for
Health and Welfare (THL), Mannerheimintie 168b, FI-00300, Helsinki,
Finland.
Email: isabel.morales@thl.fi
711920JOP 0 0 10.1177/0269881117711920Journal of PsychopharmacologyMorales-Muñoz et al.
research-article 2017
Original Paper