Assessing causality in associations between cannabis use and schizophrenia risk: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Observational associations between cannabis and schizophrenia are well documented, but ascertaining causation is more challenging. We used Mendelian randomization (MR), utilizing publicly available data as a method for ascertaining causation from observational data.

Method

We performed bi-directional two-sample MR using summary-level genome-wide data from the International Cannabis Consortium (ICC) and the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC2). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with cannabis initiation (p < 10-5) and schizophrenia (p < 5 × 10-8) were combined using an inverse-variance-weighted fixed-effects approach. We also used height and education genome-wide association study data, representing negative and positive control analyses.

Result

SUBMITTER: Gage SH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5341491 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature