Cannabis use in early adolescence is associated with higher negative schizotypy in females

Abstract

The current study examined the relationship between early onset cannabis use (before age 16) and different schizotypy dimensions, and whether gender moderates these associations. Participants were 162 cannabis users, aged 15–24 years, who completed an online assessment examining alcohol and other drug use, psychological distress, and schizotypy. Participants were divided according to whether or not they had started using cannabis before the age of 16 (early onset=47; later onset=115) and gender (males=66; females=96). The interaction between gender and onset group was significantly associated with the dimension of introvertive anhedonia. Follow-up analyses showed that early onset cannabis use was associated with higher levels of introvertive anhedonia in females only. The current findings suggest that gender is an important moderator in the association between early onset cannabis use, schizotypy, and possibly, psychosis risk.