LEVEL OF EDUCATION AND CANNABIS USE IN FIRST EPISODE OF PSYCHOSIS: GAP STUDY

Abstract

s / Schizophrenia Research 102/1–3, Supplement 2 (2008) 1–279 175 358 – LEVEL OF EDUCATION AND CANNABIS USE IN FIRST EPISODE OF PSYCHOSIS: GAP STUDY Manuela Russo1, Abraham Reichenberg1 , Marta Di Forti1, Monica Aas1, Laura Gittens1, Rowena Handley1, Sonija Luzi1, Tiago Marquez1 , Valeria Mondelli2 , Corinne Prescott1 , Heather Taylor1, Ben Wiffen1, Arshia Seddigh1, Carmine Pariante2 , Paola Dazzan1 , Kathy Aitchinson3 , Robin Murray1 1Adult Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom; 2Clinical Neuropharmacology and MRC SGDP Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom; 3MRC SGDP Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom manuela.russo@iop.kcl.ac.uk Introduction: Psychosis is an aetiologically complex disorder for which increasing evidences suggest an interaction between genetic risk factors and environment. Recent studies demonstrated social factors can influence the posibility of developing psychosis (Morgan et al., 2006). Furthermore, certain style of life like smoking cannabis could increase the risk of developing this disorder (Arseneault et al., 2004; Henquet et al., 2005; Caspi et al., 2005). We hyphothesize that level of education might be associated with cannabis use in first-episode psychosis. Methods: We collected clinical and demographic data in 158 firstepisode psychosis individuals and 75 matched healthy volunteers. Subjects were recruited as part of GAP study (Genetic and Psychosis) which included cases who presented to the South London Maudsley Trust.Of the above sample, 32 cases and 43 healthy volunteers were assessed with the Working Memory Scale III to analyze any possible diff erences in cognitive functions. Results: 63.3% of cases and 62.7% of controls are cannabis users. 48.73% of cases and 90.67% of controls achieved high level of education (greater than GCSES). Patients have significantly lower education th an controls (p<0.001). We found that cannabis users in both groups have lower education than non users (p=0.032).There is not significant evidence in neuropsychological function between cases and controls. Conclusions: We demonstrated that a t highest level of education corresponds lower use of cannabis. No significant difference in cognitive functions was found between patients and controls and cannabis use. 359 – PSYCHOSIS RISK FOR PARENTS AND SIBLINGS OF DUTCH AND DUTCH-MOROCCANPATIENTSWITH NON-AFFECTIVE PSYCHOTIC DISORDER Jean-Paul Selten1, Jan-Dirk Blom2, Ingeborg van der Tweel3, Wim Veling2, Boukje Leliefeld2 , Hans Hoek2 1University Medical Centre, Utrecht., Utrecht; 2Parnassia Bavo Group, The Hague; 3Centre for Biostatistics, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands j.p.selten@umcutrecht.nl Introduction: Studies in the UK compared psychosis risks for firstdegree relatives of White and African-Caribbean patients and found normal risks for the parents of Caribbean patients, but very high risks for siblings of second-generation Caribbean patients. The aim of this study was to compare the risk of Non-Affective Psychotic Disorder (NAPD) for the parents and siblings of Dutch-Moroccan patients to that for the parents and siblings of Dutch patients. Methods: Informants related to 29 Dutch-Moroccan and 63 Dutch patients were interviewed about the presence of psychiatric disorders in first-degree relatives (N=508), by means of the Family Interview for Genetic Studies. Results: The risks for NAPD in both parent groups were similar (ageand sex-adjusted odds ratio 1.0; 95% CI: 0.3-3.8). However, among the siblings, the risk for NAPD was significantly higher for the Dutch-Moroccans than for the Dutch (sex-adjusted hazard ratio 4.5; 95% CI: 1.5-14.0). This was due to a large number of cases among the brothers of the Dutch-Moroccan patients (N=14), not among their sisters (N=1). Owing to samll numbers separate hazard ratios for the first and the second generation were not calculated. Conclusions: These results suggest that environmental factors in the Netherlands have a great impact on the psychosis risk for male immigrants from Morocco, not that for female immigrants. Acknowledgements: The authors thank Marjolijn van Zeeland for her help in data-collection. 360 – SELF-REPORTED AND TEST-BASED MOBILITY LIMITATIONS IN PERSONSWITH PSYCHOTIC DISORDER Satu Viertio1, Paivi Sainio1, Seppo Koskinen1, Jonna Perala1, Samuli I. Saarni1, Marja Sihvonen2, Jouko Lonnqvist1 , Jaana Suvisaari1 1National Public Health Institute, Helsinki; 2University of Helsinki,