Adversity, cannabis use and psychotic experiences: Evidence of cumulative and synergistic effects

TY - JOUR

T1 - Adversity, cannabis use and psychotic experiences

T2 - Evidence of cumulative and synergistic effects

AU - Morgan, Craig

AU - Reininghaus, Ulrich

AU - Reichenberg, Abraham

AU - Frissa, Souci

AU - Hotopf, Matthew

AU - Hatch, Stephani L.

PY - 2014/5

Y1 - 2014/5

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84899719952&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1192/bjp.bp.113.134452

DO - 10.1192/bjp.bp.113.134452

M3 - Article

C2 - 24627297

SN - 0007-1250

VL - 204

SP - 346

EP - 353

JO - British Journal of Psychiatry

JF - British Journal of Psychiatry

IS - 5

ER -