Acute effects of cannabis on speech illusions and psychotic-like symptoms: two studies testing the moderating effects of cannabidiol and adolescence

Claire Mokrysz; Natacha D C Shaban; Tom P Freeman; Will Lawn; Rebecca A Pope; Chandni Hindocha; Abigail Freeman; Matthew B Wall; Michael A P Bloomfield; Celia J A Morgan; David J Nutt; H Valerie Curran

doi:10.1017/S0033291720001038

Acute effects of cannabis on speech illusions and psychotic-like symptoms: two studies testing the moderating effects of cannabidiol and adolescence

Claire Mokrysz, Natacha D C Shaban, Tom P Freeman, Will Lawn, Rebecca A Pope, Chandni Hindocha, Abigail Freeman, Matthew B Wall, Michael A P Bloomfield, Celia J A Morgan, David J Nutt, H Valerie Curran

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Acute cannabis administration can produce transient psychotic-like effects in healthy individuals. However, the mechanisms through which this occurs and which factors predict vulnerability remain unclear. We investigate whether cannabis inhalation leads to psychotic-like symptoms and speech illusion; and whether cannabidiol (CBD) blunts such effects (study 1) and adolescence heightens such effects (study 2).

METHODS: Two double-blind placebo-controlled studies, assessing speech illusion in a white noise task, and psychotic-like symptoms on the Psychotomimetic States Inventory (PSI). Study 1 compared effects of Cann-CBD (cannabis containing Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and negligible levels of CBD) with Cann+CBD (cannabis containing THC and CBD) in 17 adults. Study 2 compared effects of Cann-CBD in 20 adolescents and 20 adults. All participants were healthy individuals who currently used cannabis.

RESULTS: In study 1, relative to placebo, both Cann-CBD and Cann+CBD increased PSI scores but not speech illusion. No differences between Cann-CBD and Cann+CBD emerged. In study 2, relative to placebo, Cann-CBD increased PSI scores and incidence of speech illusion, with the odds of experiencing speech illusion 3.1 (95% CIs 1.3-7.2) times higher after Cann-CBD. No age group differences were found for speech illusion, but adults showed heightened effects on the PSI.

CONCLUSIONS: Inhalation of cannabis reliably increases psychotic-like symptoms in healthy cannabis users and may increase the incidence of speech illusion. CBD did not influence psychotic-like effects of cannabis. Adolescents may be less vulnerable to acute psychotic-like effects of cannabis than adults.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2134 - 2142
Number of pages	9
Journal	Psychological Medicine
Volume	51
Issue number	12
Early online date	28 Apr 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291720001038
Publication status	Published - 30 Sept 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Acknowledgements. Study 1 was funded by Drug Science, Channel 4

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press.

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This article has been published in Psychological Medicine [http://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291720001038]. This version is free to view and download for private research and study only. Not for re-distribution, re-sale or use in derivative works. © The Authors, 2020.
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Mokrysz, C., Shaban, N. D. C., Freeman, T. P., Lawn, W., Pope, R. A., Hindocha, C., Freeman, A., Wall, M. B., Bloomfield, M. A. P., Morgan, C. J. A., Nutt, D. J., & Curran, H. V. (2021). Acute effects of cannabis on speech illusions and psychotic-like symptoms: two studies testing the moderating effects of cannabidiol and adolescence. Psychological Medicine, 51(12), 2134 - 2142. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291720001038

Mokrysz, C, Shaban, NDC, Freeman, TP, Lawn, W, Pope, RA, Hindocha, C, Freeman, A, Wall, MB, Bloomfield, MAP, Morgan, CJA, Nutt, DJ & Curran, HV 2021, 'Acute effects of cannabis on speech illusions and psychotic-like symptoms: two studies testing the moderating effects of cannabidiol and adolescence', Psychological Medicine, vol. 51, no. 12, pp. 2134 - 2142. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291720001038

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title = "Acute effects of cannabis on speech illusions and psychotic-like symptoms: two studies testing the moderating effects of cannabidiol and adolescence",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Acute cannabis administration can produce transient psychotic-like effects in healthy individuals. However, the mechanisms through which this occurs and which factors predict vulnerability remain unclear. We investigate whether cannabis inhalation leads to psychotic-like symptoms and speech illusion; and whether cannabidiol (CBD) blunts such effects (study 1) and adolescence heightens such effects (study 2).METHODS: Two double-blind placebo-controlled studies, assessing speech illusion in a white noise task, and psychotic-like symptoms on the Psychotomimetic States Inventory (PSI). Study 1 compared effects of Cann-CBD (cannabis containing Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and negligible levels of CBD) with Cann+CBD (cannabis containing THC and CBD) in 17 adults. Study 2 compared effects of Cann-CBD in 20 adolescents and 20 adults. All participants were healthy individuals who currently used cannabis.RESULTS: In study 1, relative to placebo, both Cann-CBD and Cann+CBD increased PSI scores but not speech illusion. No differences between Cann-CBD and Cann+CBD emerged. In study 2, relative to placebo, Cann-CBD increased PSI scores and incidence of speech illusion, with the odds of experiencing speech illusion 3.1 (95% CIs 1.3-7.2) times higher after Cann-CBD. No age group differences were found for speech illusion, but adults showed heightened effects on the PSI.CONCLUSIONS: Inhalation of cannabis reliably increases psychotic-like symptoms in healthy cannabis users and may increase the incidence of speech illusion. CBD did not influence psychotic-like effects of cannabis. Adolescents may be less vulnerable to acute psychotic-like effects of cannabis than adults.",

author = "Claire Mokrysz and Shaban, {Natacha D C} and Freeman, {Tom P} and Will Lawn and Pope, {Rebecca A} and Chandni Hindocha and Abigail Freeman and Wall, {Matthew B} and Bloomfield, {Michael A P} and Morgan, {Celia J A} and Nutt, {David J} and Curran, {H Valerie}",

note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgements. Study 1 was funded by Drug Science, Channel 4 Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press.",

year = "2021",

month = sep,

day = "30",

doi = "10.1017/S0033291720001038",

language = "English",

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T2 - two studies testing the moderating effects of cannabidiol and adolescence

AU - Mokrysz, Claire

AU - Shaban, Natacha D C

AU - Freeman, Tom P

AU - Lawn, Will

AU - Pope, Rebecca A

AU - Hindocha, Chandni

AU - Freeman, Abigail

AU - Wall, Matthew B

AU - Bloomfield, Michael A P

AU - Morgan, Celia J A

AU - Nutt, David J

AU - Curran, H Valerie

PY - 2021/9/30

Y1 - 2021/9/30

N2 - BACKGROUND: Acute cannabis administration can produce transient psychotic-like effects in healthy individuals. However, the mechanisms through which this occurs and which factors predict vulnerability remain unclear. We investigate whether cannabis inhalation leads to psychotic-like symptoms and speech illusion; and whether cannabidiol (CBD) blunts such effects (study 1) and adolescence heightens such effects (study 2).METHODS: Two double-blind placebo-controlled studies, assessing speech illusion in a white noise task, and psychotic-like symptoms on the Psychotomimetic States Inventory (PSI). Study 1 compared effects of Cann-CBD (cannabis containing Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and negligible levels of CBD) with Cann+CBD (cannabis containing THC and CBD) in 17 adults. Study 2 compared effects of Cann-CBD in 20 adolescents and 20 adults. All participants were healthy individuals who currently used cannabis.RESULTS: In study 1, relative to placebo, both Cann-CBD and Cann+CBD increased PSI scores but not speech illusion. No differences between Cann-CBD and Cann+CBD emerged. In study 2, relative to placebo, Cann-CBD increased PSI scores and incidence of speech illusion, with the odds of experiencing speech illusion 3.1 (95% CIs 1.3-7.2) times higher after Cann-CBD. No age group differences were found for speech illusion, but adults showed heightened effects on the PSI.CONCLUSIONS: Inhalation of cannabis reliably increases psychotic-like symptoms in healthy cannabis users and may increase the incidence of speech illusion. CBD did not influence psychotic-like effects of cannabis. Adolescents may be less vulnerable to acute psychotic-like effects of cannabis than adults.

AB - BACKGROUND: Acute cannabis administration can produce transient psychotic-like effects in healthy individuals. However, the mechanisms through which this occurs and which factors predict vulnerability remain unclear. We investigate whether cannabis inhalation leads to psychotic-like symptoms and speech illusion; and whether cannabidiol (CBD) blunts such effects (study 1) and adolescence heightens such effects (study 2).METHODS: Two double-blind placebo-controlled studies, assessing speech illusion in a white noise task, and psychotic-like symptoms on the Psychotomimetic States Inventory (PSI). Study 1 compared effects of Cann-CBD (cannabis containing Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and negligible levels of CBD) with Cann+CBD (cannabis containing THC and CBD) in 17 adults. Study 2 compared effects of Cann-CBD in 20 adolescents and 20 adults. All participants were healthy individuals who currently used cannabis.RESULTS: In study 1, relative to placebo, both Cann-CBD and Cann+CBD increased PSI scores but not speech illusion. No differences between Cann-CBD and Cann+CBD emerged. In study 2, relative to placebo, Cann-CBD increased PSI scores and incidence of speech illusion, with the odds of experiencing speech illusion 3.1 (95% CIs 1.3-7.2) times higher after Cann-CBD. No age group differences were found for speech illusion, but adults showed heightened effects on the PSI.CONCLUSIONS: Inhalation of cannabis reliably increases psychotic-like symptoms in healthy cannabis users and may increase the incidence of speech illusion. CBD did not influence psychotic-like effects of cannabis. Adolescents may be less vulnerable to acute psychotic-like effects of cannabis than adults.

U2 - 10.1017/S0033291720001038

DO - 10.1017/S0033291720001038

M3 - Article

C2 - 32340632

SN - 1469-8978

VL - 51

SP - 2134

EP - 2142

JO - Psychological Medicine

JF - Psychological Medicine

IS - 12

ER -

Acute effects of cannabis on speech illusions and psychotic-like symptoms: two studies testing the moderating effects of cannabidiol and adolescence

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