The Effects of Cannabis, Social Anxiety, and Social Support on the Escalation of Schizotypal Traits Over a 2 Month Period

The effects of cannabis, social anxiety, and social support on changes in Schizotypal Personality Disorder (SPD) traits were examined over ~2 month period. This prospective, longitudinal study prompted participation at Time 1 and thereafter at 6, 8, and 10 weeks or until completed for Time 2. Collected exclusively online, 239 participants finished Time 1 and 156 continued to Time 2, which 103 completed. Analyses used 100 participants for path analysis and supplementary hierarchical regressions. A model positing how social support and social anxiety function as moderators between cannabis and schizotypy was tested with pathway analysis and demonstrated poor model fit; the moderators in general did not receive support. Hierarchical regressions between only cannabis and schizotypy met with significance, establishing that there is a relationship between the two of them and further, indicated that schizotypy traits can change over the average of 52 days in response to cannabis use.