Age moderates the association between frequent cannabis use and negative schizotypy over time. (December 2018) - Albertella, Lucy
Abstract: The current study examined whether age and frequent cannabis use interact to influence the trajectories of positive and negative schizotypy over time. Participants were 155 cannabis users, aged 15–24 years old, assessed over a 12-month period at 6-monthly intervals. The analyses examined the influence of age, frequent use, and time on positive and negative schizotypy. The current study found that among frequent cannabis users, younger age was associated with increased negative schizotypy over time, while among occasional cannabis users, younger age was associated with decreasing negative schizotypy over time. The current findings have implications for understanding how cannabis use may influence psychosis risk differently depending on age and frequency of use, as well as bring together past mixed findings on the relationship between negative schizotypy and cannabis use. Highlights: We examined whether age and frequent cannabis use interact to predict changes in positive and negative schizotypy over time Among occasional users, younger age was associated with decreasing negative schizotypy over time Among frequent users, younger age was associated with increasing negative schizotypy over time These findings suggest that cannabis use may influence psychosis risk differently depending on age and frequency of use