Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40776588›Full record

Observational studyPsychological medicine2025

The impact of childhood trauma and cannabis use on paranoia: a structural equation model approach.

Giulia Trotta, Edoardo Spinazzola, Hannah Degen, Zhikun Li, Isabelle Austin-Zimmerman, Bok Man Leung, Yifei Lang, Victoria Rodriguez, Monica Aas, Lucia Sideli and 6 more

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Psychological medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Giulia TrottaSocial, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-2801-9718
Edoardo SpinazzolaDepartment of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience. King's College of London, London, UK.
Hannah DegenDepartment of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience. King's College of London, London, UK.
Zhikun LiSocial, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Isabelle Austin-ZimmermanSocial, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Bok Man LeungDepartment of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience. King's College of London, London, UK.
Yifei LangDepartment of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience. King's College of London, London, UK.
Victoria RodriguezDepartment of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience. King's College of London, London, UK.
Monica AasSocial, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Lucia SideliDepartment of Human Science, LUMSA University, Rome, Italy.
Kim WolffKing's Forensics, Department of Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College of London, London, UK.
Tom P FreemanAddiction and Mental Health Group, Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
Robin M MurrayDepartment of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience. King's College of London, London, UK.
Chloe C Y WongSocial, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Luis AlamedaDepartment of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience. King's College of London, London, UK.
Marta Di FortiSocial, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.

Funding

Medical Research Council F-116508
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChildhood trauma is a well-established risk factor for psychosis, paranoia, and substance use, with cannabis being a modifiable environmental factor that exacerbates these vulnerabilities. This study examines the interplay between childhood trauma, cannabis use, and paranoia using standard tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) units as a comprehensive measure of cannabis exposure.

methodsData were derived from the Cannabis&Me study, an observational, cross-sectional, online survey of 4,736 participants. Childhood trauma was assessed using a modified Childhood Trauma Screen Questionnaire, while paranoia was measured via the Green Paranoid Thoughts Scale. Cannabis use was quantified using weekly standard THC units. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to evaluate direct and indirect pathways between trauma, cannabis use, and paranoia.

resultsChildhood trauma was strongly associated with paranoia, particularly emotional, and physical abuse (

conclusionsThese findings highlight childhood trauma as a primary driver of paranoia, with cannabis use amplifying its effects. While trauma had a strong direct impact, cannabis played a significant mediating role. Integrating standard THC units into psychiatric research and clinical assessments may enhance risk detection and refine intervention strategies, particularly for childhood trauma-exposed individuals.

Indexed as

Adult Survivors of Child AbuseAdverse Childhood ExperiencesMarijuana UseParanoid DisordersAdolescentAdultChildCross-Sectional StudiesDronabinolFemaleHumansLatent Class AnalysisMaleMiddle AgedRisk FactorsYoung AdultDronabinolcannabis usechildhood traumaparanoiastandard THC unitstructural equation modeling

Identifiers

PMID40776588
PMCPMC12360688

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.