The effects of cannabis use disorder on cognitive functions: A meta-analysis

IF 3.6 2区医学 Q1 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL

Addictive behaviors Pub Date : 2025-07-14 DOI:10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108434

Florence Pilon , Alexandre Dumais , Charles-Édouard Giguère , Stéphane Potvin

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Abstract

Background and aims

Impairments in cognition are frequently associated with acute cannabis consumption; on the other hand, controversies persist regarding the residual cognitive impairments of cannabis, with some estimates highlighting significant or mild cognitive impairment. One of the main limitations of the available research syntheses is that little attention has been paid to individuals with cannabis use disorder. Thus, our main objectives are to determine the amplitude of the cognitive deficits associated with cannabis use disorder, and to identify the cognitive domains the most and least impaired.

Methods

Studies with a patient group with a cannabis use disorder diagnosis and data from at least one validated neurocognitive test were selected. After manual extraction, data were pooled in a multivariate meta-analysis and effect size estimates were calculated for 13 cognitive domains. Meta-regression analyses on potential moderators were performed.

Findings

There were small-to-moderate impairments in 10 out of the 13 cognitive domains. Deficits in verbal learning/memory, speed of processing and working memory were more prominent (d = 0.4/0.5) whereas verbal fluency and attention were the least affected. No association was observed between the potential moderators and global cognition.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis shows that cannabis use disorder is associated with moderate deficits in verbal learning/memory, speed of processing and working memory. Despite the limitation of the studies in the field, our results should serve as a reminder that the residual cognitive impairments associated with cannabis should not be under-estimated prematurely.

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大麻使用障碍对认知功能的影响：荟萃分析

背景和目的认知障碍通常与急性大麻消费有关；另一方面，关于大麻残留的认知障碍的争议仍然存在，一些估计强调了严重或轻度的认知障碍。现有研究合成的主要限制之一是对大麻使用障碍患者的关注很少。因此，我们的主要目标是确定与大麻使用障碍相关的认知缺陷的幅度，并确定受损最严重和最小的认知领域。方法选择诊断为大麻使用障碍的患者组和至少一项有效神经认知测试的数据。人工提取后，将数据汇总到多变量荟萃分析中，并计算13个认知领域的效应大小估计。对潜在调节因子进行meta回归分析。研究结果：在13个认知领域中，有10个领域出现了小到中度的损伤。言语学习/记忆、加工速度和工作记忆的缺陷更为突出（d = 0.4/0.5），而言语流畅性和注意力的影响最小。未观察到潜在调节因子与整体认知之间的关联。结论大麻使用障碍与言语学习/记忆、加工速度和工作记忆的中度缺陷有关。尽管该领域的研究存在局限性，但我们的结果应该提醒我们，不应过早低估与大麻相关的残余认知障碍。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Addictive behaviors 医学-药物滥用

CiteScore

8.40

自引率

4.50%

发文量

283

审稿时长

46 days

期刊介绍： Addictive Behaviors is an international peer-reviewed journal publishing high quality human research on addictive behaviors and disorders since 1975. The journal accepts submissions of full-length papers and short communications on substance-related addictions such as the abuse of alcohol, drugs and nicotine, and behavioral addictions involving gambling and technology. We primarily publish behavioral and psychosocial research but our articles span the fields of psychology, sociology, psychiatry, epidemiology, social policy, medicine, pharmacology and neuroscience. While theoretical orientations are diverse, the emphasis of the journal is primarily empirical. That is, sound experimental design combined with valid, reliable assessment and evaluation procedures are a requisite for acceptance. However, innovative and empirically oriented case studies that might encourage new lines of inquiry are accepted as well. Studies that clearly contribute to current knowledge of etiology, prevention, social policy or treatment are given priority. Scholarly commentaries on topical issues, systematic reviews, and mini reviews are encouraged. We especially welcome multimedia papers that incorporate video or audio components to better display methodology or findings. Studies can also be submitted to Addictive Behaviors? companion title, the open access journal Addictive Behaviors Reports, which has a particular interest in ''non-traditional'', innovative and empirically-oriented research such as negative/null data papers, replication studies, case reports on novel treatments, and cross-cultural research.