Characterization of childhood trauma, hippocampal mediation and Cannabis use in a large dataset of psychosis and non-psychosis individuals

Authors

Elisabetta C. del Re
Walid Yassin
Victor Zeng
Sarah Keedy
Ney Alliey-Rodriguez, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow
Elena Ivleva
Scott Hill
Nicole Rychagov
Jennifer E. McDowell
Jeffrey R. Bishop

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2023

Abstract

Background

Cannabis use (CA) and childhood trauma (CT) independently increase the risk of earlier psychosis onset; but their interaction in relation to psychosis risk and association with endocannabinoid-receptor rich brain regions, i.e. the hippocampus (HP), remains unclear. The objective was to determine whether lower age of psychosis onset (AgePsyOnset) is associated with CA and CT through mediation by the HP volumes, and genetic risk, as measured by schizophrenia polygene scores (SZ-PGRS).

Methods

Cross-sectional, case-control, multicenter sample from 5 metropolitan US regions. Participants (n = 1185) included 397 controls not affected by psychosis (HC); 209 participants with bipolar disorder type-1; 279 with schizoaffective disorder; and 300 with schizophrenia (DSM IV-TR). CT was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ); CA was assessed by self-reports and trained clinical interviewers. Assessment included neuroimaging, symptomatology, cognition and calculation of the SZ polygenic risk score (SZ-PGRS).

Results

In survival analysis, CT and CA exposure interact to be associated with lower AgePsyOnset. At high CT or CA, CT or CA are individually sufficient to affect AgePsyOnset. CT relation with AgePsyOnset is mediated in part by the HP in CA users before AgePsyOnset. CA before AgePsyOnset is associated with higher SZ-PGRS and correlated with younger age at CA usage.

Discussion

CA and CT interact to increase risk when moderate; while severe CT and/or CA abuse/dependence are each sufficient to affect AgePsyOnset, indicating a ceiling effect. Probands with/out CA before AgePsyOnset differ on biological variables, suggesting divergent pathways to psychosis.

Comments

Original published version available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2023.03.029

Recommended Citation

Del Re, E. C., Yassin, W., Zeng, V., Keedy, S., Alliey-Rodriguez, N., Ivleva, E., ... & Keshavan, M. (2023). Characterization of childhood trauma, hippocampal mediation and Cannabis use in a large dataset of psychosis and non-psychosis individuals. Schizophrenia Research, 255, 102-109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2023.03.029

Publication Title

Schizophrenia Research

DOI

10.1016/j.schres.2023.03.029

Academic Level

faculty