Associations Between Cannabis, Psychosis, and Schizophrenia in Adolescents
Academic Leadership Journal in Student Research January 1, 2022 Lauren Moment, Null Null 2 citations
Cannabis use during adolescence and young adulthood is linked to higher rates of schizophrenia diagnoses, though a causal relationship has not been established. A Swedish study of army conscripts found that those who persistently used cannabis in adolescence had higher rates of schizophrenia. Prolonged, frequent use of exogenous cannabinoids may perturb the endocannabinoid system during critical brain development, potentially contributing to psychosis and schizophrenia pathogenesis. The review also discusses the diathesis-stress model, where cannabis may be one of several neurological insults leading to schizophrenia onset.