Anna-Karin Danielsson1, Andreas Lundin2, Emilie Agardh3, Peter Allebeck2, Yvonne Forsell2. 1. Karolinska Institutet, Department of Public Health Sciences, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: anna-karin.danielsson@ki.se. 2. Karolinska Institutet, Department of Public Health Sciences, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Epidemiology and Community Medicine, Stockholm County Council, Sweden. 3. Karolinska Institutet, Department of Public Health Sciences, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Whether or not cannabis use may increase the risk for depression and/or anxiety is not clear. For one thing, it has not been possible to draw a definitive conclusion regarding the direction of causality, i.e. whether cannabis use increases the risk for depression/anxiety or vice versa. This study aimed at examining possible associations between cannabis use, depression and anxiety, using all three measures as both exposure and outcome. METHODS: Data were obtained from a longitudinal cohort study comprising 8598 Swedish men and women, aged 20-64, with a three-year-follow-up. RESULTS: Adjusted for sex and age, cannabis use at baseline was associated with an increased relative risk (RR) for depression and anxiety at follow-up, with RR=1.22 [1.06-1.42 Cl 95%] for depression and RR=1.38 [1.26-1.50 Cl 95%] for anxiety. Adjusted for all confounders (alcohol and illicit drug use, education, family tension, place of upbringing), the associations were no longer statistically significant; RR=0.99 [0.82-1.17 Cl 95%] for depression and RR=1.09 [0.98-1.20 Cl 95%] for anxiety. Age-adjusted, reporting depression or anxiety at baseline increased the risk of cannabis onset at follow-up three years later; RR=1.62 [1.28-2.03 CI 95%] and RR=1.63 [1.28-2.08 CI 95%] respectively. However, adjusted for other illicit drug use the associations were no longer statistically significant. LIMITATIONS: Lack of information on frequency of cannabis use and of age of initiation of use. CONCLUSIONS: We found no longitudinal associations between cannabis use and incidence of depression/anxiety, or between depression/anxiety and later cannabis use onset.
BACKGROUND: Whether or not cannabis use may increase the risk for depression and/or anxiety is not clear. For one thing, it has not been possible to draw a definitive conclusion regarding the direction of causality, i.e. whether cannabis use increases the risk for depression/anxiety or vice versa. This study aimed at examining possible associations between cannabis use, depression and anxiety, using all three measures as both exposure and outcome. METHODS: Data were obtained from a longitudinal cohort study comprising 8598 Swedish men and women, aged 20-64, with a three-year-follow-up. RESULTS: Adjusted for sex and age, cannabis use at baseline was associated with an increased relative risk (RR) for depression and anxiety at follow-up, with RR=1.22 [1.06-1.42 Cl 95%] for depression and RR=1.38 [1.26-1.50 Cl 95%] for anxiety. Adjusted for all confounders (alcohol and illicit drug use, education, family tension, place of upbringing), the associations were no longer statistically significant; RR=0.99 [0.82-1.17 Cl 95%] for depression and RR=1.09 [0.98-1.20 Cl 95%] for anxiety. Age-adjusted, reporting depression or anxiety at baseline increased the risk of cannabis onset at follow-up three years later; RR=1.62 [1.28-2.03 CI 95%] and RR=1.63 [1.28-2.08 CI 95%] respectively. However, adjusted for other illicit drug use the associations were no longer statistically significant. LIMITATIONS: Lack of information on frequency of cannabis use and of age of initiation of use. CONCLUSIONS: We found no longitudinal associations between cannabis use and incidence of depression/anxiety, or between depression/anxiety and later cannabis use onset.
Authors: Christopher J Hammond; Steven D Shirk; Dawn W Foster; Nicolas B Potenza; Shane W Kraus; Linda C Mayes; Rani A Hoff; Marc N Potenza Journal: Psychol Addict Behav Date: 2019-06-27
Authors: Alexa J Pellegrino; Kerry D Duck; Dylan P J Kriescher; Mackenzie E Shrake; Michael M Phillips; Trent L Lalonde; Kristina T Phillips Journal: J Drug Issues Date: 2020-07-04
Authors: Frank Y Chou; Heather L Armstrong; Lu Wang; Nicanor Bacani; Nathan J Lachowsky; Thomas L Patterson; Zach Walsh; Gbolahan Olarewaju; Kiffer G Card; Eric A Roth; Robert S Hogg; David M Moore Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2019-01-15 Impact factor: 4.839