Effects of cannabis dependence on sleep quality and cognitive function: A comparative study in moroccan adolescent addicts and non-addicts

IF 3.3 Q2 MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES

Scientific African Pub Date : 2025-09-23 DOI:10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02996

Abdelilah Elhachimi , Abdelhafid Benksim , Hamid Ibanni , Mohamed Eddabbah , Mohamed Cherkaoui

{"title":"Effects of cannabis dependence on sleep quality and cognitive function: A comparative study in moroccan adolescent addicts and non-addicts","authors":"Abdelilah Elhachimi , Abdelhafid Benksim , Hamid Ibanni , Mohamed Eddabbah , Mohamed Cherkaoui","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02996","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Cannabis use during adolescence is a growing public health concern, particularly due to its potential effects on brain development, cognitive function, and sleep quality. While the prevalence of cannabis use among Moroccan youth is high, scientific studies exploring its neuropsychological consequences in this population remain limited.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to examine and compare cognitive performance and sleep quality between cannabis-addicted and non-addicted Moroccan adolescents, using validated assessment tools.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 200 adolescents aged 14 to 24, recruited from the Guéliz Addiction Center in Marrakech. Participants were classified into addicted and non-addicted groups based on The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney U tests, Spearman correlations, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Addicted adolescents showed significantly lower MoCA scores across several domains, including memory, attention, and language (<em>p</em> < 0.01). They also reported significantly poorer sleep quality, with higher scores in PSQI components such as sleep latency, nighttime disturbances, and use of sleep medications (<em>p</em> < 0.01). PCA revealed distinct latent dimensions associated with both cognitive and sleep impairments, with memory and daytime dysfunction emerging as major contributors. A moderate to strong correlation was found between addiction diagnosis, cognitive decline, and sleep disruption.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Cannabis addiction in Moroccan adolescents is associated with significant impairments in cognition and sleep. These findings highlight the need for integrated assessment tools and culturally tailored interventions to address cannabis use and its consequences in this vulnerable population.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article e02996"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Scientific African","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227625004661","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Cannabis use during adolescence is a growing public health concern, particularly due to its potential effects on brain development, cognitive function, and sleep quality. While the prevalence of cannabis use among Moroccan youth is high, scientific studies exploring its neuropsychological consequences in this population remain limited.

Objective

This study aimed to examine and compare cognitive performance and sleep quality between cannabis-addicted and non-addicted Moroccan adolescents, using validated assessment tools.

Methods

A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 200 adolescents aged 14 to 24, recruited from the Guéliz Addiction Center in Marrakech. Participants were classified into addicted and non-addicted groups based on The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney U tests, Spearman correlations, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA).

Results

Addicted adolescents showed significantly lower MoCA scores across several domains, including memory, attention, and language (p < 0.01). They also reported significantly poorer sleep quality, with higher scores in PSQI components such as sleep latency, nighttime disturbances, and use of sleep medications (p < 0.01). PCA revealed distinct latent dimensions associated with both cognitive and sleep impairments, with memory and daytime dysfunction emerging as major contributors. A moderate to strong correlation was found between addiction diagnosis, cognitive decline, and sleep disruption.

Conclusion

Cannabis addiction in Moroccan adolescents is associated with significant impairments in cognition and sleep. These findings highlight the need for integrated assessment tools and culturally tailored interventions to address cannabis use and its consequences in this vulnerable population.

查看原文本刊更多论文

大麻依赖对睡眠质量和认知功能的影响：摩洛哥青少年成瘾者和非成瘾者的比较研究

青少年吸食大麻是一个日益严重的公共卫生问题，特别是由于其对大脑发育、认知功能和睡眠质量的潜在影响。虽然大麻在摩洛哥青年中的使用率很高，但探索其在这一人群中的神经心理后果的科学研究仍然有限。目的：本研究旨在使用有效的评估工具，检查和比较大麻成瘾和非大麻成瘾摩洛哥青少年的认知表现和睡眠质量。方法对来自马拉喀什gusamriz成瘾中心的200名14 - 24岁青少年进行横断面比较研究。根据《精神疾病诊断与统计手册》第五版（DSM-5）标准，将参与者分为成瘾组和非成瘾组。使用蒙特利尔认知评估（MoCA）评估认知表现，使用匹兹堡睡眠质量指数（PSQI）评估睡眠质量。统计分析包括Mann-Whitney U检验、Spearman相关性和主成分分析（PCA）。结果成瘾青少年在记忆力、注意力和语言等多个领域的MoCA得分均显著降低（p < 0.01）。他们还报告睡眠质量明显较差，PSQI成分得分较高，如睡眠潜伏期、夜间干扰和睡眠药物的使用（p < 0.01）。PCA揭示了与认知和睡眠障碍相关的不同潜在维度，其中记忆和白天功能障碍是主要因素。在成瘾诊断、认知能力下降和睡眠中断之间发现了中度到强烈的相关性。结论摩洛哥青少年大麻成瘾与认知和睡眠障碍相关。这些调查结果强调需要综合评估工具和适合文化的干预措施，以解决大麻使用及其对这一弱势群体的影响。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊