Introducing the ASI-NPI project: preliminary analysis of a study exploring the role of cannabis, salience alterations and youth in determining psychotic symptoms severity

Abstract

the present paper describes the preliminary results of a study centered on the effect of salience alterations and cannabis use on the intensity of psychotic symptoms in adolescent and adult cohorts. The exploratory analysis focused on cross-sectional scores at psychometric questionnaires of 64 participants allocated to 4 different subgroups. A hierarchical pattern in the psychopathology measures was observed in the adult subgroups, with Psychotic patients scoring higher in several domains than other patients from the Psychiatric and Neurologic Units; in turn, adolescents reported a more severe intensity of psychotic symptoms at the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale subscales (p-value: < 0.05) when compared to adult one, while no significant difference was observed in cannabis exposure or Aberrant Salience Inventory scores (p-value: 0.22). These results suggest that aberrant salience and, to a lesser degree, cannabis use might play a role in determining psychotic symptoms severity, especially in more at-risk life phases. Public Significance Statement: the present study displays how salience alterations in younger patients might lead to intensified psychotic symptoms, while exploring parallel psychopathological domains and explaining the layout of a wider project. The role of cannabis use in this equation is still to be clarified.