Cannabis’s Link to Schizotypy: Phenomenon, Measurement Bias, or Delusion?

Cannabis users and non-users do not differ on a standard measure of schizotypal personality (the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief, SPQ-B) when potential measurement bias is accounted for. In a sample of 705 participants recruited via Amazon's MTurk, over 500 reported lifetime cannabis exposure, and 259 reported current use averaging 4.53 days per week. Users and non-users showed no significant differences on total SPQ-B scores or its three established subscales. A re-examination of the SPQ-B's factor structure identified a novel three-factor solution (difficulty opening up to others, hyperawareness, and odd or unusual behavior).

Study at a glance

Abstract

Links between cannabis use and psychosis generate research and media attention. Cannabis users have outscored non-users on the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief (SPQ-B) in multiple studies, but previous work suggests that groups do not differ if biased items are removed. The present study examined links between schizotypal personality and cannabis use in a large sample recruited from Amazon's MTurk platform (N = 705). Over 500 participants reported lifetime cannabis exposure. Of those, 259 participants reported current cannabis use, and on average, used 4.53 days per week. Users and non-users failed to differ significantly on total SPQ-B scores or any of the three established subscales. The null results inspired a re-examination of the SPQ-B's factor structure, which identified a novel 3-factor solution (difficulty opening up to others, hyperawareness, and odd or unusual behavior). Only the "odd or unusual behavior" factor showed cannabis-related differences, but a differential item functioning test revealed that one subscale item showed potential bias against users. Removing this item diminished group differences. These results suggest that links between schizotypy and cannabis use require cautious interpretation with careful attention to potential measurement bias. In addition, the SPQ-B might have an alternative factor structure that could help answer important questions in psychopathology.