A new article published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research finds that cannabis and synthetic cannabinoid use can slow recovery from first episode psychosis.
The use of natural cannabis (NC) was associated with higher levels of dissociation and difficulty processing and describing emotions (alexithymia) compared to non-use. In addition to higher levels of dissociation and alexithymia, synthetic cannabinoid (SC) use was also linked to more severe positive symptoms of psychosis and increased issues with attributing significance to non-significant stimuli (aberrant salience).
The current work, led by Ricci Valerio of San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital in Italy, also finds that participants who did not use cannabis or synthetic cannabinoids reported worse negative symptoms of psychosis compared to users.
“Across all psychopathological dimensions measured at three time points,” the researchers write, “our longitudinal analysis revealed consistent patterns: non-users showed the most robust improvement over time, natural cannabis users demonstrated intermediate recovery with persistent deficits in emotional processing, while synthetic cannabinoid users exhibited minimal improvement and maintained high levels of psychopathology throughout the observation period. These differential trajectories were particularly evident in positive symptoms, aberrant salience, and alexithymia, suggesting substance-specific effects on recovery processes and treatment response.”
This study adds nuance to the ongoing debate about cannabis use and psychosis, highlighting that synthetic cannabinoids may worsen symptoms and slow recovery more than natural cannabis or abstinence. Amid rising THC potency and a growing industry push to normalize cannabis, researchers continue to find links between heavy or early use and cognitive or psychiatric harms. Yet much of the public discourse overlooks the distinction between types of cannabinoids and their divergent effects. As calls for more rigorous research persist, these findings suggest that not all cannabis use is created equal and that potency, context, and user vulnerability matter.
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