Adversity, cannabis use and psychotic experiences: evidence of cumulative and synergistic effects
Year: 2014
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: There is robust evidence that childhood adversity is associated with an increased risk of psychosis. There is, however, little research on intervening factors that might increase or decrease risk following childhood adversity. AIMS: To investigate main effects of, and synergy between, childhood abuse and life events and cannabis use on odds of psychotic experiences. METHOD: Data on psychotic experiences and childhood abuse, life events and cannabis use were collected from 1680 individuals as part of the South East London Community Health Study (SELCoH), a population-based household survey. RESULTS: There was strong evidence that childhood abuse and number of life events combined synergistically to increase odds of psychotic experiences beyond the effects of each individually. There was similar, but weaker, evidence for cannabis use (past year). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that childhood abuse creates an enduring vulnerability to psychosis that is realised in the event of exposure to further stressors and risk factors.
Authors: Craig Morgan, Ulrich Reininghaus, Abraham Reichenberg, Souci Frissa, SELCoH study team, Matthew Hotopf, Stephani L. Hatch
Language: English
Topic: Child Abuse and Trauma
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,951
OpenAlex ID: W2159705047