Critical Article Review: Investigating the Interaction between Schizotypy, Divergent Thinking and Cannabis Use

Cannabis use has been linked to increased schizotypy and elevated levels of psychosis during instances of chronic use. Individuals who are creative tend to exhibit higher schizotypy levels; nevertheless, the association between creativity, schizotypy and cannabis use is yet to be explored empirically. Schafer et al (2012) undertook a study to explore the effects of cannabis smoked in a naturalistic setting on divergent thinking (a measure of creativity) and schizotypy. The methodology entailed testing 160 cannabis users on one day when sober and on another day when under the influence of cannabis. Schafer et al (2012) administered both the trait and state measures of both creativity and schizotypy. Schafer et al (2012) examined the effects that cannabis use has on the interplaying variables of state creativity and state schizotypy by comparing the quartile splits between the lowest (n=47) and the highest (n=43) with respect to trait activity. State creativity was investigated using divergent and convergent thinking respectively: verbal fluency and Remote Associates Task (RAT). The findings pointed out that cannabis use increased the symptoms associated with psychosis in both groups, and that the high creativity group exhibited relatively higher trait schizotypy; however, this is not related to the change in verbal fluency. The findings also pointed out a positive correlation between acute cannabis use and divergent thinking.

Review

Cannabis has been a subject of media attention and researchers because of evidence linking its use with dependence and psychosis (Axelrod, Grilo, Sanislow, & McGlashan, 2001). However, scientific literature and anecdotal evidence points out that cannabis may be used to enhance creativity. Despite the contention regarding the relationship between cannabis use and creativity, this link is yet to be studies extensively by researchers; this is because there is no consensus regarding the definition and objective measurement of creativity. The review of literature by Schafer et al (2012) suggested that that, neither the impacts of cannabis on creativity nor the mechanisms through which cannabis induces psychotomimetic creativity is yet to be explored and well understood. Nevertheless, Schafer et al (2012) hypothesized that cannabis use results in psychotomimetic systems that results in linking apparently unconnected concepts, which is a characteristic of divergent thinking that constitutes creative thinking. An altered state of mind resulting from drug use can result in breaking free from the normal associations and thinking, which increases the chances of coming up with fresh thoughts or associations (Boden, Gross, Babson, & Bonn-Miller, 2013). In the wake of unclear evidence regarding the relationship between creativity and cannabis use, Schafer et al (2012) sought to investigate the effects that cannabis use has on the creativity and schizotypy in order to determine how cannabis use, schizotypy and creativity are interrelated.

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