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Article 1: Hambrecht, M., & Hӓfner, H. (2000). Cannabis, vulnerability, and the onset of schizophrenia: An epidemiological perspective. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 34, 468-75.

Summary: The article was aimed at determining if correlations between cannabis use and schizophrenia represented a causal relationship.

Questions to Consider: [Critical thinking questions based on the article to gauge student comprehension and analysis]

1. How does this study differ from others like it?
2. What was found with regarding to the timing of cannabis use versus the onset of schizophrenic symptoms?
3. Is making a causal statement possible in this kind of study? Why, or why not?
    

Article 2: Taylor, M., Cavanagh, J., Hodgson, R., & Tiihonen, J. (2012). Examining the effectiveness of antipsychotic medication in first-episode psychosis. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 26 Supplement, 27-32.

Summary: This paper reviews research on the effectiveness of antipsychotic medication in treating first-episode psychosis.

Questions to Consider:

1. What is the distinction being made between efficacy and effectiveness?
2. What do large scale meta-analyses suggest about differences in different antipsychotic medications?
3. How do first and second generation antipsychotics compare with regard to their use in treatment of first-episode psychosis?
    

Article 3: Barnard, L., Young, A. H., Pearson, J., Geddes, J., & O’Brien, G. (2002). A systematic review of the use of atypical antipsychotics in autism. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 16, 93-101.

Summary: This paper reviews research of the use of atypical antipsychotics in the treatment of autism.

Questions to Consider:

1. What are the core autistic features discussed in this review, and how were those assessed in the various studies?
2. What effects did the use of atypical antipsychotics have on these core features across studies?
3. What sorts of adverse reactions were observed in the use of atypical antipsychotic medications in the treatment of autism?