Estudio de la reserva cognitiva en adolescentes consumidores de cannabis (estudio RESCATE): descripción del protocolo y resultados preliminares.

Introduction: Given the increasing prevalence of cannabis use among adolescents and its impact on mental health, there is a need to identify those individuals who are more susceptible to its harmful effects. Cognitive reserve (CR) is the brain's capacity to withstand brain damage without manifesting symptoms of impairment. This approach is particularly interesting to identify susceptible individuals during vulnerable stages, such as adolescence. Objectives: To describe the study protocol and preliminary results, assessing CR and overall functioning in a sample of adolescents diagnosed with cannabis use disorder, as well as its influence on psychopathology, functioning and cognitive performance. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional observational study protocol. The Chi-square test was used for categorical variables related to cannabis consumption, the Mann-Whitney U test for quantitative variables such as severity of the disorder, and Spearman's rho test to explore the correlation between GAF and clinical variables collected in the study. Results: Twelve participants were included, 58.33% females aged 16.5 ± 1.00 years. The majority of the sample fell into the low CR group (90%), with nearly 50% exhibiting low functioning. An association was observed between low global functioning and positive psychotic symptoms, manic symptoms, global clinical severity, and poorer adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Conclusions: The preliminary sample shows a significant low CR in adolescents with cannabis use disorder. Identifying individuals with low CR and a risk of psychopathology could guide more effective and precise preventive and therapeutic programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]