This project forms the basis of Lucy Albertella’s PhD. It is a longitudinal study of cannabis use, schizotypy and attentional inhibition in a sample of 14-24 year olds. 

Project Collaborators External

• Dr Mike Le Pelley School of Psychology, UNSW

Research shows that there is a relationship among cannabis use, schizotypy, and attentional inhibition. It is unclear from the existing literature, however, what the nature of this relationship is. To address this issue, we are conducting a longitudinal study of cannabis use, schizotypy, and negative priming (a measure of attentional inhibition) in a sample of 14 – 24 year olds. Knowing how cannabis use, schizotypy, and attentional inhibition are temporally related in adolescence and young adulthood will allow a better understanding how these factors may interact to increase risk for psychotic disorders.

To determine howcannabis use, schizotypy, and attention are temporally related in a sample of 14-24 year olds.

Design and Method

The study design is longitudinal. Cannabis use, schizotypy, and negative priming are assessed online, at three time points; i.e., at baseline, at 6 months, and at 12 months follow-up. 

Progress/Update

Participant recruitment and follow-up assessments have been completed.

Papers published: 
Albertella, L., Le Pelley, M. E., & Copeland, J. (2015). Cannabis use, schizotypy, and negative priming. Psychiatry research, 228(3), 404-410.
Albertella, L., Le Pelley, M. E., & Copeland, J. (2016). Frequent cannabis use is associated with reduced negative priming among females. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 24, 313-319.