Cited by 113Child Abuse and TraumaSchizophrenia research and treatmentPsychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending

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

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Morgan, Craig, Reininghaus, Ulrich, Reichenberg, Abraham, Frissa, Souci, SELCoH study team, Hotopf, Matthew, Hatch, Stephani L.·2014·British Journal of Psychiatry

Abstract

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.

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Crossref · 10.1192/bjp.bp.113.134452

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  • The synergy of social adversity and other factors such as drug abuse and familial risk, in combination with exposure to childhood trauma, may push individuals beyond the threshold for psychotic disorder.

    “suggesting that it is the synergy of social adversity and other factors such as drug abuse and familial risk which, in combination with exposure to childhood trauma, may push individuals beyond the threshold for psychotic disorder”

    From Clinical, socio‐demographic and psychological characteristics in individuals with persistent psychotic experiences with and without a “need for care” (2016) · cites this paper as [31]

    The Discussion (page not provided) reports that childhood abuse may interact with life events and recent cannabis use to increase the likelihood of psychotic experiences, and proposes a pathway that may more rarely lead to psychotic disorder. It does not establish an interaction with familial risk or drug abuse generally, and its measured outcome was psychotic experiences rather than crossing a threshold for psychotic disorder. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • There seems to be a synergistic interplay between different risk factors, such as between childhood abuse and adult life events, as well as cannabis use, suggesting that exposure to childhood and adult disadvantage may combine in complex ways to push some individuals along the pathway to psychotic disorder.

    “There seems to be a synergistic interplay between different risk factors, such as between childhood abuse and adult life events, as well as cannabis use 31,32 , suggesting that exposure to childhood and adult disadvantage may combine in complex ways to push some individuals along the pathway to psychotic disorder.”
  • Morgan et al reported a complex interplay between different environmental risk factors.

    “Our results are in line with Morgan et al's report 31,32 of a complex interplay between different environmental risk factors”

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [26]Rothman KJ Greenland S Lash TL Modern Epidemiology (3rd edn). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2008

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Authors
Morgan, C., Reininghaus, U., Reichenberg, A., Frissa, S., SELCoH study team, Hotopf, M., & Hatch, S. L.
Affiliations
  • King's College London (GB)
  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (US)
Corresponding author
Morgan, Craig
Venue
British Journal of Psychiatry
Published
2014-05
Volume
204
Issue
5
Pages
346-353
ISSN
  • 0007-1250 (ISSN-L)
  • 1472-1465
OpenAlex
W2159705047
Cited by
113
References
42
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 2
FWCI
16.13
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The British Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Lirias (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
  • Wellcome Trust (WT087417, HEALTH-F2-2009-241909)
  • Maudsley Charity
  • National Institute for Health and Care Research (PDF-2011-04-065)
  • Guy's and St Thomas' Charity
  • King's College London
  • European Commission (241909)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending
Keywords
childhood adversity, childhood abuse, cannabis use, psychotic experiences, life events, cumulative risk, synergistic effect, psychosis risk, stressors
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Marijuana Abuse, Female, Humans, Life Change Events, Male, Marijuana Smoking, Middle Aged, Psychotic Disorders, Surveys and Questionnaires, Adult Survivors of Child Abuse, Young Adult

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