G B Bovasso1. 1. University of Pennsylvania Treatment Research Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. gbovasso@mail.med.upenn.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study sought to estimate the degree to which cannabis abuse is a risk factor for depressive symptoms rather than an effort to self-medicate depression. METHOD: Participants (N=1,920) in the 1980 Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) study who were reassessed between 1994 and 1996 as part of a follow-up study provided the data. The analysis focused on two cohorts: those who reported no depressive symptoms at baseline (N=849) and those with no diagnosis of cannabis abuse at baseline (N=1,837). Symptoms of depression, cannabis abuse, and other psychiatric disorders were assessed with the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. RESULTS: In participants with no baseline depressive symptoms, those with a diagnosis of cannabis abuse at baseline were four times more likely than those with no cannabis abuse diagnosis to have depressive symptoms at the follow-up assessment, after adjusting for age, gender, antisocial symptoms, and other baseline covariates. In particular, these participants were more likely to have experienced suicidal ideation and anhedonia during the follow-up period. Among the participants who had no diagnosis of cannabis abuse at baseline, depressive symptoms at baseline failed to significantly predict cannabis abuse at the follow-up assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is needed to identify characteristics of individuals who abuse cannabis that account for their higher risk of depression to estimate the degree of impairment resulting from their depression.
OBJECTIVE: This study sought to estimate the degree to which cannabis abuse is a risk factor for depressive symptoms rather than an effort to self-medicate depression. METHOD:Participants (N=1,920) in the 1980 Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) study who were reassessed between 1994 and 1996 as part of a follow-up study provided the data. The analysis focused on two cohorts: those who reported no depressive symptoms at baseline (N=849) and those with no diagnosis of cannabis abuse at baseline (N=1,837). Symptoms of depression, cannabis abuse, and other psychiatric disorders were assessed with the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. RESULTS: In participants with no baseline depressive symptoms, those with a diagnosis of cannabis abuse at baseline were four times more likely than those with no cannabis abuse diagnosis to have depressive symptoms at the follow-up assessment, after adjusting for age, gender, antisocial symptoms, and other baseline covariates. In particular, these participants were more likely to have experienced suicidal ideation and anhedonia during the follow-up period. Among the participants who had no diagnosis of cannabis abuse at baseline, depressive symptoms at baseline failed to significantly predict cannabis abuse at the follow-up assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is needed to identify characteristics of individuals who abuse cannabis that account for their higher risk of depression to estimate the degree of impairment resulting from their depression.
Authors: Ron de Graaf; Mirjana Radovanovic; Margriet van Laar; Brian Fairman; Louisa Degenhardt; Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola; Ronny Bruffaerts; Giovanni de Girolamo; John Fayyad; Oye Gureje; Josep Maria Haro; Yueqin Huang; Stanislav Kostychenko; Jean-Pierre Lépine; Herbert Matschinger; Maria Elena Medina Mora; Yehuda Neumark; Johan Ormel; Jose Posada-Villa; Dan J Stein; Hisateru Tachimori; J Elisabeth Wells; James C Anthony Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2010-06-09 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Kathryn D Boger; Randy P Auerbach; Pia Pechtel; Alisa B Busch; Shelly F Greenfield; Diego A Pizzagalli Journal: J Psychother Integr Date: 2014-06
Authors: Emmanuel S Onaivi; Hiroki Ishiguro; Jian-Ping Gong; Sejal Patel; Paul A Meozzi; Lester Myers; Alex Perchuk; Zoila Mora; Patricia A Tagliaferro; Eileen Gardner; Alicia Brusco; B Emmanuel Akinshola; Qing-Rong Liu; Sanika S Chirwa; Bruce Hope; Javier Lujilde; Toshiya Inada; Shinya Iwasaki; David Macharia; Lindsey Teasenfitz; Tadao Arinami; George R Uhl Journal: Ann N Y Acad Sci Date: 2008-10 Impact factor: 5.691