ABSTRACT
The relationship between substance use and psychotic disorders has produced much controversy in clinical, public policy and research domains. Given the role of regulators in determining the legality of substances of abuse, the relationship between substance use and psychosis has been a matter for contentious debate. Cannabis use has been ubiquitously linked with psychosis in the minds of the general public, legislators and social policy developers. However clinicians and researchers acknowledge that, while many young people smoke cannabis, only a few go on to develop psychosis. Schizotypy is a heterogeneous personality trait and varies in presentation. The exploration of personality variables that modify the presentation of schizotypy has hardly begun. Schizotypy is a clinical risk for depression, anxiety, psychosis and bipolar disorder. It is possible that personality traits shape the clinical outcomes for which schizotypy provide a background risk. Emotional factors in schizotypy can be viewed as additive risk factors for substance use.
